Shopping has never been one of my favorite activities, and recently I had an experience that further reinforced my opinion on the matter. One morning a few weeks ago, I took an innocent trip to Fred Meyer, to pick up a few things–you know, that were on my list that day.
When I got ready to make my purchases, I pushed my cart over to the checkout stand, and waited my turn. During the transaction, the cashier and I were making small talk–
“Hello, how are you?”
Just great. Thanks…
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
I hope so. I don’t want to come back…
“Is it still raining out there?”
I don’t know. I’m in here with you…
–You know, the typical customer/cashier conversation. Then, suddenly things took a strange turn. She started asking me some more thought-provoking, difficult questions like,
“Is today Tuesday?”
I only had to think that one through for a couple of seconds. Yes, it was Tuesday.
Then came, “Is it the second Tuesday of the month?”
Ummm…my brain was trying to simultaneously calculate the date to figure this out, and wondering why on earth this woman was asking the question.
I finally came up with the answer, and told her that, yes, it was indeed the second Tuesday of the month. At my response, she stared at me expectantly for a few seconds, while I stared quizzically back.
She finally said, “Well, if that doesn’t mean anything to you, then nevermind.”
Ok! I thought. That was strange. I was about to move on, when it hit me like a bag of day-old bagels!
She’s trying to offer me the senior discount! She thinks I’m OLD!!!
At this realization, the room started spinning, my breathing became rapid, and my palms started to sweat. To be honest, I don’t even really remember much about the rest of the transaction, but somehow I made it out to my car with my purchases, and was able to make the drive home.
Safely inside my house, my day completely ruined, I replayed the scene over and over. Stupid second Tuesday! Stupid Fred Meyer! Stupid cashier! Why did this happen to me?
Could it be karma coming to get me for laughing at my husband’s similar experience at Dairy Queen a few years ago? But it’s not fair! He is bald and has a grey beard. He DOES look old!
I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror–what made her think I was old? Was it the grey hairs peeking through my dark curls? The thinking lines between my eyes? My less than trendy clothing? My proper use of the English language? The fact that I was buying kitchen towels???
Ok, I admit it. I do wear earplugs to my Zumba class; I do pick shoes and clothes based more on comfort than design; I have been known to have conversations about some of my physical ailments; I do like to go to bed early–a late night out for me ends at about 10:30; my stomach can’t tolerate ice cream late at night anymore…
I AM OLD!!!
This was a hard revelation to take! Now I was in a funk! After moping around for a while, crying through a box of Kleenex, and eating all the chocolate in the house, I finally realized there’s no denying it–I am getting older, and I might as well embrace it. I decided to look up some thoughts about ageing, to make myself feel better:
The first one I read said, “Age doesn’t mean anything unless you’re a cheese”–not super helpful. What does that even mean?
Next, I read that “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Well, that’s a little better, except I do mind.
After a bit more searching, I finally found this gem of wisdom: “Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”–This, I like.
My mind grabbed hold of this metaphor, and began spinning the philosophy. I am becoming a work of art–abstract or surrealist maybe, but art, just the same. As in paintings, whose layers of brush strokes and colors add dimension, depth and drama, so it is with life. I am creating a picture one year, one day and one experience at a time, each adding its unique stroke of color and texture to the canvas. One day I will be a beautiful masterpiece.
With this image in my head, I was starting to feel a bit better. I then decided to look up some of the benefits of ageing. Here is just some of what I found.
Older people generally have a happier, more positive outlook on life and focus on what is most important. They have more time for family, friends and pursuing their passions. Seniors also have fewer major life decisions to make, and don’t worry as much about how things will “turn out.”
Another bit of good news: Contrary to past thinking, it has been discovered that our brains can continue to grow neurons and reshape themselves in response to what they learn all throughout our lives. Also, as older adults are more likely than younger people to activate both hemispheres of the brain at the same time, our reasoning and problem-solving skills tend to get sharper as we age.
Maybe this getting older thing isn’t so bad afterall. In fact, bring it on Second Tuesday!
YES, I do know what that means, and YES, I gladly look forward to paying less for my purchases, taking advantage of the deals for the decrepit, and letting your young lads assist me to my automobile.
In another decade or so, shopping may just become one of my favorite activities. In fact, I just may decide to enhance my agedness to take advantage a little earlier!