Sub-Culturing

I was out and about today getting my wife’s car serviced and then mine inspected. These two efforts were sandwiched around a stop by the grocery store as my wife ramps up her cooking efforts with the grandkids on the agenda for next week. I’ll be looking to rent space in available freezers as she kicks that effort into high gear. I mention the errands because, as I was wandering around greater Worcester today, I realized I am now part of a sub-culture. It took me a while to realize I’m old, a bona fide senior citizen. The Cantankerous Friend was instrumental in making me come to grips with that reality when I claimed to be middle aged. Anyway, the sub-culture I’m talking about is senior citizenry.

Since I’m retired, I accomplished those errands in the middle of what used to be a work day. As I was going about, I noticed that most of the other people on the road, at the inspection station, grocery store, and the service center were all senior citizens as well (judging by the abundance of white hair in evidence). While this makes driving a bit more of an adventure than I would prefer, it brought home to me that a younger guy passing by would think the same thing about me.

While getting old comes with an abundance of issues (mostly health and memory related) there is an upside (who knew!). I can perform these errands at my leisure and avoid the crush of people when all the working stiffs get out of work. As my voyage of self-discovery continued, I realized I don’t even try to go to Home Depot on weekends any more and my obsession with the movies is addressed by weekday matinees. It turns out, between 10AM and 3PM, the seniors dominate the world. I could just be looking for an upside but what the hell, why not. Getting old is not all that bad and to once again quote my Cantankerous Friend – it certainly beats the alternative. I finished another puzzle, because, as a senior, I have the time for such mundane pleasures. Faux philosophy session ends.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECURRING CHARACTERS:

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course