Ladies and gentlemen, if you have graduated to the senior class of individuals in our country, give yourself a pat on the back and a round of applause.
Welcome to the wonderful world of senior discounts, automatic doors, ramps that replace stairs, priority seating, large print, Medicare and free time. These things are meant to enhance our lives, make things easier, and acknowledge our senior class status. However, I find that some seniors tend to develop a negative attitude as the years go by, rather than enjoying life to the fullest and counting their blessings.
I’m new at being old. After every birthday, I try to remind myself to keep a sense of humor about getting older. One day while I was waiting in line at the bank, their computer went down. The elderly man standing behind me started fussing about how long it was taking to get things up and running again. I mentioned to him that if he didn’t have time to wait now, perhaps he could come back tomorrow, “No can do”, he said, “Why at my age honey, I don’t even buy green bananas”! That man needs to start thinking positive!
We have so many things to be grateful for at our age; a wealth of knowledge, a memory bank full of stories, the richness of our life so far. And we are so fortunate to have the advantages of Senior Centers and Senior Living facilities, as well as Community Services. But wait… there’s more!
The senior discounts referred to earlier here can be found all over town, whether for merchandise or services, so don’t be afraid to ask. Did you know that McDonalds has “senior coffee” at a lower price than the regular? And at Denny’s restaurant, the back page of the menu lists a variety of senior meals that are smaller portions and are a bit smaller in price. Also, a few dining establishments offer “early bird” or “twilight” specials, which cater to seniors.
Also, seniors have gained recognition. They used to say we had “gray power”, however, that doesn’t help much when you’re up against something that requires lifting, pushing or pulling. For example; some places I frequent have very heavy doors, such as the library, my doctor’s office or the bank. I was struggling with one of those recently when a young man stepped forward and pulled it open for me with ease. This guy was stronger than Starbucks coffee and I was very grateful for his courtesy.
Retirement or senior years grant us freedom. It’s a time that allows us to pursue our interests, pamper ourselves, do volunteer work, travel or whatever we choose. No more need to punch a time clock, a thing takes as long as it takes. I feel that it’s a precious time and not to be wasted being grumpy or depressed. A cheerful demeanor will help give us long life I believe. For example; do you remember hearing about the comedian George Burns being interviewed by a female journalist regarding his diet? “Mr. Burns”, she asked, “to what do you credit your longevity? For example, do you only eat organic foods”? “Oh no”, Burns replied, “at my age, I eat all the preservatives I can get”!
Doesn’t a smile feel good?
Nevada resident Carolyn Schneider is author of the book, “Bing: On the Road to Elko”, about her uncle, Bing Crosby. She may be reached at artist71635@msn.com