Getting Old - funny story (includes a Prius)

ggood · 07-22-2009, 10:54 AM

This is a story by David McClure from the Dallas News Community Opinion page.

$5.37. That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bueno said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Emo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68" he said cheerfully. I stood there stupefied. I am 48, not even 50 yet - a mere child! Senior Citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck wondering what was wrong with Emo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting, with a smile.

Before I could say a word, he held up something and jJingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler? "Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, he?" I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"

I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.

Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle. Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Emo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?" All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here?" At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.

Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized. She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast. As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blanky.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

bevspark · 07-23-2009, 10:13 AM

Ggood, It only gets better. Life begins at 50!

Funny story though.

ggood · 07-23-2009, 10:22 AM

My wife still refuses to take the senior citizen's discount. She especially didn't like it when she got offered it several years ago at age 48!

bevspark · 07-23-2009, 10:28 AM

At what age are you considered to be a senior citizens in the US. Here we have to be 65 I think. The goal posts keep changing. It may be even older than that now for men.
Don't quote me on this, I have known to be wrong before.

PriusLewis · 07-23-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggood

My wife still refuses to take the senior citizen's discount. She especially didn't like it when she got offered it several years ago at age 48!

I'm all for it! I'm 57, I lived this long and I DESERVE it! of course, about the only place that has a 55 or older discount is IHOP.

What startled me is when I received "The Packet" when I turned 50 - that dreaded invitation to join AARP!

Rock On!

ggood · 07-23-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevspark

At what age are you considered to be a senior citizens in the US. Here we have to be 65 I think. The goal posts keep changing. It may be even older than that now for men.
Don't quote me on this, I have known to be wrong before.

Just depends what you're talking about. Lots of restaurants or chains start at 55. I've seen hotel discounts start at 50. I forget what the airlines do. AARP, which offers lots of discounts from different companies, lets you join at 50. U.S. Social Security benefits can start as early as 62 or as late as 70, but the standard benefits become available at 65 to 67, depending on year of birth.

bevspark · 07-23-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggood

Just depends what you're talking about. Lots of restaurants or chains start at 55. I've seen hotel discounts start at 50. I forget what the airlines do. AARP, which offers lots of discounts from different companies, lets you join at 50. U.S. Social Security benefits can start as early as 62 or as late as 70, but the standard benefits become available at 6 to 67, depending on year of birth.

Social Security benefits cover a wide range of pensions, not just age pension. What do you mean standard benefits become available at 6?

hyo silver · 07-23-2009, 10:12 PM

A few years ago during our epic cross-country trip, I was checking out of a hotel that had a sign at the front desk that said "Ask us about our senior's discount" So I did. Looking out at the car, he replied "Oh, have you got seniors with you?" and gave me the discount. My wife wasn't exactly pleased.

ggood · 07-24-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevspark

Social Security benefits cover a wide range of pensions, not just age pension. What do you mean standard benefits become available at 6?

I corrected it to 65. I was just referring to the traditional retirement benefits.

bevspark · 07-24-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyo silver

A few years ago during our epic cross-country trip, I was checking out of a hotel that had a sign at the front desk that said "Ask us about our senior's discount" So I did. Looking out at the car, he replied "Oh, have you got seniors with you?" and gave me the discount. My wife wasn't exactly pleased.

07-22-2009, 10:54 AM	#1
ggood ggood Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,290 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 69 Thanked 163 Times in 112 Posts Friends: 6	Getting Old - funny story (includes a Prius) This is a story by David McClure from the Dallas News Community Opinion page. $5.37. That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bueno said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Emo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount." I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68" he said cheerfully. I stood there stupefied. I am 48, not even 50 yet - a mere child! Senior Citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck wondering what was wrong with Emo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting, with a smile. Before I could say a word, he held up something and jJingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler? "Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, he?" I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!" I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard. Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle. Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found. I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Emo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?" All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here?" At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits. Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized. She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time." All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast. As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blanky. The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

07-23-2009, 10:13 AM	#2
bevspark Toyota, Major Sponsors of The Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Adelaide; South Australia Posts: 680 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 15 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Getting Old - funny story (includes a Prius) Ggood, It only gets better. Life begins at 50! Funny story though.

07-23-2009, 10:22 AM	#3
ggood ggood Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,290 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 69 Thanked 163 Times in 112 Posts Friends: 6	Re: Getting Old - funny story (includes a Prius) My wife still refuses to take the senior citizen's discount. She especially didn't like it when she got offered it several years ago at age 48!

07-23-2009, 10:28 AM	#4
bevspark Toyota, Major Sponsors of The Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Adelaide; South Australia Posts: 680 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 15 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Getting Old - funny story (includes a Prius) At what age are you considered to be a senior citizens in the US. Here we have to be 65 I think. The goal posts keep changing. It may be even older than that now for men. Don't quote me on this, I have known to be wrong before.

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07-23-2009, 10:12 PM	#8
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,726 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 47 Thanked 152 Times in 107 Posts Friends: 63	A few years ago during our epic cross-country trip, I was checking out of a hotel that had a sign at the front desk that said "Ask us about our senior's discount" So I did. Looking out at the car, he replied "Oh, have you got seniors with you?" and gave me the discount. My wife wasn't exactly pleased.