Senior status???
In the lifetime of The Legal Genealogist, as in the lifetime of anyone whose time has spanned parts of both the 20th and 21st centuries, there have been birthdays… and then there have been birthdays.
Birthdays like the year you first enter school and discover, to your chagrin, that an entire classroom full of people intends to turn to you, and sing you the birthday song… and you are so astonished and dismayed by becoming the unexpected focus of attention that you run and hide in the lavatory until the ordeal is over,
Birthdays like the year you are old enough to get a driver’s license in your home state… only you’re halfway across the country attending college in another state and have to wait until the end of the semester before you can even take the written exam.
Birthdays like the year you are finally 21 and can legally vote… except that the nation has just amended its constitution to lower the voting age to 18.
And of course the birthdays like the year you hit 40, and your baby sister sends you a card that reads: Happy 40th birthday! You will never have fun again the rest of your life.
Birthdays like the year you turn 50 and the only peoplke who really pay attention are those from the membership office of AARP. (My family knew I was expecting to be hassled, so they deliberately planned a surprise party for my 51st birthday — and I really was surprised.)
Birthdays like the year you turn 55, and suddenly you can get 10% off things like breakfast at JB’s, the restaurant closest to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City — but you’re not entirely sure you want to ask for it. I mean, a senior citizen discount? But I’m not a senior citizen!
Birthdays like the year you reach the age of 60, and you’d really like to get discounts on things … and except for the folks whose discounts kick in at 55, nobody cares. Sixty is a really boring birthday.
And… sigh… birthdays like the year you finally reach 65… and you qualify for all the discounts.
You qualify for Medicare, for pete’s sake.
You are — are Officially — and in Capital Letters — a Senior Citizen.
Sigh…
Birthdays like today.
When you realize you’ve gone from 0 to 65 without ever passing adult…
Where’s my official “Gimme my damn discount” t-shirt anyway?
Great post, Judy; and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, again!
Is that you in the picture? How adorable!!!!
Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Renate
Thanks and yep, that’s me, tear in the pants and all.
I am not a Senior Citizen—and never will be! My life is the best it has ever been. BTW, one very wise grocery in my area refers to their discount as a “wisdom” discount. And do they ever get my business! Happy Birthday to you!
Oooh… wisdom discount! Great idea!
I qualified for the Senior discount at Long John Silvers at 50. Think it’s the earliest I have seen a Senior discount. They started giving it to me at 48, guessing all the gray hair made them think I looked 50+.
My view th4ese days is, take any discount you’re offered — and ask if it isn’t!!
Happy, happy birthday! Have fun with all that extra loose change.
Better than loose marbles, I suppose! 🙂
Don’t think of it as “Senior Citizen”, think of it as joining the Elders. Live Long and Prosper Judy!
Judy, I know just how you feel and I don’t really want to say, “Congratulations”, because I always wonder why you are congratulated for doing nothing except getting older—which you really don’t control!!
However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to tell you that I’m way ahead of you, in age only, because I’m rapidly approaching the “75 mark”!!!
Happy Birthday, Judy!
Happy Birthday, Judy!
Wishing you the vary happiest of birthdays, Judy. I think I need a t-shirt too — in three weeks I will turn 60, and I’m looking forward to the discounts at my local movie theater and at Seattle Mariners’ games.
I’m 75 and still going–when you find the t-shirt I want one too!
Happy Birthday–and congratulations for making it through another year with the demanding schedule you keep.
Julia, Doug’s email says we really can get the shirt!! (Here.)
Apparently, you really can get your t-shirt! Happy birthday Judy! And many mooooooooooooore!
http://www.cafepress.com/+senior-citizen-gimme-my-damn-discount+t-shirts
Thanks!! (And I really want the shirt!!)
Dear Judy,
I don’t care how old you are, as long as you don’t retire 🙂 Happy birthday!
Hugs,
Yvette
Not planning on it any time soon, young’un — thanks!!
A couple of weeks ago, I was buying something in a store and clerk just gave me the senior citizen discount, without asking if I qualified. I didn’t know whether to be pleased or miffed, especially since I really don’t think I officially qualified. Happy birthday. Glad you love what you do and aren’t retiring!!!
No plans on retiring from genealogy — for sure!! Thanks!!
I like to think of it as being a “Seasoned Citizen” rather than Senior. Happy Birthday and welcome to the club.
Seasoned! I like that, thanks!
Wonderful post, Judy. I know how you feel. Even worse for me was when my daughter qualified for her first senior discount. I told our local Franz Bakery Outlet that she was looking forward to being able to get their senior discount (at 55). They told me to have her mention that, and they would give her an extra 10% discount on her first “Senior purchase”. She did. And now she asks every time she shops anywhere.
Oh my… having a child qualify would be daunting, wouldn’t it??? 🙂
Judy,
Love the column!
When I moved to Florida in my early 50s, waitresses always asked if I was a senior citizen and therefore qualified for the discount. At first I was insulted, then chose to be amused, since you had to be 65. Everyone in my family looks much younger than their age. I live in a retirement home, and have noticed that the older people get, the more likely they are to include the “1/2,” just like four year olds do. My mother now says she’s “100 and 10/12ths” which exactly correct–today! She doesn’t look a day over 85.
Doris
These days I’ll take any discount I can get!! Thanks!
I was going to point out that the 29th Century should have been interesting but I didn’t really want to point out that “Senior Moment”. I’ll just keep the email for evidence.
Having blown past my 70th, I can identify but, it keeps getting better so who am I to complain?
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and, of course, here’s to many more.
Hey, I fixed it. Not in time, but… 🙂 (Thanks.)
Great post…very funny. I think most of us missed the “adult” button and T-shirt 😉 I think the family should have given you a surprise 49th birthday to carry you through the year. Welcome to the ranks of the officially “old”.
Thanks, Pauleen!! At least this one comes with some benefits!!
Great post as always.
Thanks, Jim!
Happy Birthday!!!
Also want to tell you how much I enjoyed your New Zealand posts and pictures. My son had just returned from New Zealand, so I shared your posts with him as well. Look forward to meeting up with you again at a lecture soon.
Thanks so much — and NZ is gorgeous.
Happy Birthday!!!! You didn’t let us in on that secret last night, we would have taken you out to party! Hope you enjoy sunny Arizona for your birthday.
I didn’t know at the seminar last night that my baby brother had spilled the beans!! So no way to keep it under wraps today. Loving the sun today, thanks.
10 years from now you will have reached my age of 75 cousin. Take a minute and look at one of your major achievements!…that closet full of T-shirts and your AARP card! This one made me giggle. Good job.
I actually got a birthday wish today… from AARP. Sigh…
Happy birthday! Aging still beats the alternative, I think. 🙂
Have to agree with you on that one! 🙂
Happy Birthday Judy, Great Post.
I have a T-shirt that says: “Genealogists never die, they just lose their census!”
So we’ll keep up with the genealogy! I’m ahead of you, getting too close to 80 but don’t feel or look it (I hope).
You look a bit pugnacious in the photo, which still comes through once in awhile – keep up the great posts Judy.
Happy Birthday, and thanks for your good and interesting work. A good friend turned 65 on St. Patrick’s Day, I will turn 65 on June 1, and I get Medicare May 1–I’m actually delighted about that, as my insurance will go down so much. Enjoy the perks of being Seasoned. : )
Once my Medigap policy kicks in (April 1), my overall coverage will be better than through my employer, so this is a net plus for me too!
I’m a bit behind you – getting discounts when I remember to ask, as i’m not used to it yet, being >60 but <65. It wasn't my birthday but was (worryingly) more than 10 years ago when someone gave up her seat for me on a bus as I was obviously elderly!
I don’t mind being “older” — but do NOT want ever to be thought of as OLD!! 🙂
Happy 65th, Judy. You are one of my heroes in the genealogy world.
Thanks so much!
Yeah, the “without passing adult” resonates… “You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever.” (not atributing that to anyone, because I’ve seen it attributed to so many).
Happy birthday, and good onya for having a great sense of humor!
We have to keep a sense of humor in this world, don’t we?
These birthdays are those to be celebrated – how many people never get the opportunity to turn 40, 50, or even 65? Easy for me to say but hard for me to remember when I crawl out of bed in the morning and feel my joints ache.
Happy birthday to you!
Having those birthdays sure beats the alternative!
A belated happy birthday! Medicare, may. Rocking chair, no!
Thank you!