Modern Vespa

Say, "I'll have the Senior Discount - no, make that a double".

Turning fifty did not bother me (I was living on a sailboat in the Bahamas at the time).

When my daughter turned fifty - that bothered me.

Always, always, always, ask for the Senior Discount. I got 10% off a bar tab once! Dammit, we've earned it. Harrumph, harrumph.

OK, we probably see eye to eye on the stature thing.... and it's beyond annoying as a man. One time about 10-12 years ago I was doing a catering gig (I was a chef, owned a company with my wife). I was flying solo on this job, and we had hired a waitress. I was in the kitchen getting things ready and she came in, introduced herself, and says to me "You're so little and cute, I just need to give you a hug". Ugh! Talk about being marginilized.

I was too polite to express my anger. Now I laugh at the absurdity of this.

The old fella that runs a local bike shop calls me young man every time I walk in. He's probably closing in on 70, and I'm just into my 50s.

If a young punk did the same thing I would probably have the urge to kick him in the teeth. But I'm 50...so hopefully I could take out a kneecap.

THANK YOU Slashy for stating what many of us don't want to admit, that we created and shaped this generation of socially immature adults (along with the technology that pervades their lives, which we also created).

Me? I told them I wasn't their voicebox, if they wanted something, it was up to them to ask for it. And my kids somehow managed to ask for all sorts of things they probably shouldn't have along the way. The best was at an arts festival in Pennsylvania... there was a guy doing a multi day sand sculpture, all based on movie toys. He had a ribbon tape around his work area, and you could watch him work and talk to him. Most kids were just too afraid to talk to a working adult, but my kid (he was 8 or 9 at the time).... he asks if he can help! The artist says "Come back at 4:00", and when we did he let him under the tape, showed him how the plan worked, how the tools worked, and gently guided him.

The artist says that in all the years he'd done festivals, nobody ever asked to help. So when he got the request, he couldn't resist.

I even have a Disney "Grumpy" T-shirt to wear.

If any upstart whippersnapper makes remarks that are disparaging of my grey beard status, I respond by calling them "lad" or "girlie" !

ME TOO!

I earned it on a trip to Disney World some years ago.

thanks, appreciate all the input, but I still get pissed off by the young man thing as I am anything but young and do not look young. Again I do not think any one is being mean but they just think what they are doing is cute. In my opinion it is not and perhaps if I nicely explain it to them they will understand.



Just my opinion. It looks like we are finally getting nice weather and i can take my Vespa out.

Hope all have a great memorial day


larry

Wow! I don't give a fig for what people call me, as long as it's with a smile. I embrace all the 'senior' privileges I can get! The very best value is the US National Parks 'for life' card.

Ah, yes. I am all too familiar with the "handsy" license taken with short people. As though we are puppies or teddy bears, available for hugs and squeezes whenever one wants. Baaaahh!! Get away!

I do try to judge motivations instead of actions, though. Your story made me laugh, larrytsg!

This last February, our youngest of three turned 7 and I hit 51. I stopped coloring my grey hair about 6 years ago when I cut it all off to donate to Locks of Love (for children's cancer wigs) and lost almost 100 pounds. This was my way of embracing the ageing process on my terms and not burdening my children with easily preventable, weight related health issues. I plan on making it past 100 in decent health!

I fully expected to have someone refer to me as the kid's grandmother (my hubs, the same age, looks younger. I looked 25 at 16.) but it hasn't happened yet. I do get called 'ma'am' quite often, sometimes 'young lady' by the older crowd, but nothing that would bother me. As long as they are polite, it's all good.

It sure is a good one! I also happily accept various veteran and disabled veteran privileges and freebies. I figure I earned them the hard way.

I nearly forgot. The only time the age thing got to me was when I turned 50. I received in the mail an AARP birthday card that had a membership application inside. Gawd I hated that. Since then I have embraced the benefits that come with being a "young" senior. lol

I'm on the other side of the coin. I have always, and I have been told even now, look much younger than I am. It would almost certainly be flattering for a woman but I have always got the impression that they think I am immature.

When I was 20 I went into a liquor store to buy beer. Back then you had to be at least 18. The cashier carded me, like they always did until I got to about 35, and said "Where did you get this fake ID? Get out of here." and wouldn't give me back my drivers license. I had to call the police to go in there and make him give it back. I try to not worry about what people think but that one was tough.

Wow. Some initiative on his part. ID quality has improved over the years, but unless you have good evidence that there's something wrong with it, kind of a ballsy move.

Probably because of my size, carding hasn't been much of an issue....plus I didn't go out to a lot of bars. All the same, when I was 17 I bought a 6-pack without being carded, and my next event was when I was about 45. Go figure. Funny, I don't remember getting all that much mail from AARP at 50, but my wife, 9 years my junior was plagued with it. Funny, I waited until then to sign up. Discounts are discounts.

Permission to use this line, Sir?

Wow. It sounds like you started quite a transformation 6 years ago. Did you start riding around the same time? Regardless good for you. You have a very nice demeanor on here and are a welcome breath of fresh air, so to speak.

Thank you for your kind words! In my limited time as a member of MV, I've enjoyed your sense of humor and strength of character.

After 20 plus years of feeling trapped by my body, I switched to eating from little plates, politely refusing seconds and logging everything I put in my mouth. I may be a deflated balloon now, but I'm a skinny one!

I started riding as a teen (early 60's Lambretta shifty and 70's Honda CB350) but didn't continue after high school. July will mark a year with an M endorsement so I consider myself an intermediate newb.

Larry, it seems the general consensus is that life's too short to worry, let it go, and get over it.
I disagree. If this is something that bothers you I'd politely say something. The important thing is to address it, otherwise it will fester and continue to bother you. I'd advise you to be very polite, and you seem like you naturally would be. Personally, I know I sometimes say things that others take the wrong way. It is never my intention to insult, belittle, or offend someone (well, almost never). So if my lighthearted jesting is bothering someone, I'd like to know. If I gave you that "What can I do for you, young feller" thing (which I wouldn't) I would hope you'd say something like "Say, I know you probably mean no offense by it, but I'll let you in on a secret. I know I'm older, and for the most part it's not something I appreciate being reminded of." Maybe you are too sensitive. But that is really neither here nor there. What's important is this is bothering you enough to post about it. Just by addressing it you'll probably feel better. In my opinion, of course.

You had me at CB350...................