I know that there are much more serious things going on in the world today, but I wanted to share something that happened to me last month...twice!
Last week, while all the kids were here, they decided to go rock climbing leaving me and Ron free to finally go see Les Miserables. I was so excited to finally get to see the movie and off we went! We drove to Ron's favorite theater in Fremont, he dropped me at the front entrance, then went to park the car. I got in line to buy tickets. Short line...Yay! Now it's my turn. I step up to the counter with a big grin on my face. At this point I was almost giddy with excitement.
Me - "Two tickets for the 4:30 showing of Les Mis, please."
Dork behind the counter - "Would you like the senior discount?'
Me - After a moment of stunned silence, "How old do you have to be to get the senior discount?"
Dork - "62 at this theater." The guy looked like he was 19 or 20.
Me - Not giddy anymore and more than a little deflated. "Well, thanks SO much for thinking that I look old enough for the senior discount, but NO I'm not that old!"
Dork - "Then your total is $18." I hand him a $20 bill. He prints my tickets and hands me my change with a big cheesy grin on his face. "Enjoy your show!"
Me - "Yeah. Thanks SO much."
To be fair, I wasn't wearing any makeup, I had a hat on and what you could see of my hair did look white, but really?! A senior?! Maybe I was more sensitive about this since something similar had happened just the week before...
I've been spending quite a bit of time sewing lately. This means that I have been making regular trips to the fabric store. I was waiting in line to have fabric cut. During the holidays there are a lot of people making gifts so the line was pretty long. There were two clerks working at the cutting table. As I was waiting I watched and listened to another customer at the counter. She had at least 8 bolts of fabric in her cart and was asking for multiple and different sized cuts from each one. She constantly asked the clerk to remeasure before she cut the fabric. While she was being helped, she also kept busy by asking whoever was at the cutting table next to her what they were making. She told a novice sewer how much fabric she needed to make a blanket. Her manner was loud, bossy and intimidating - she actually took the other woman's fabric off the cutting table out of the hands of the clerk to demonstrate what 2 1/2 yards of fabric looked like. Everyone around me looked uncomfortable, but didn't say anything.
Finally it was my turn at the counter. I kept thinking to myself "I hope that lady doesn't ask me what I'm making" because I didn't want to hear how I was supposed to make it. The clerk asked me how much fabric I wanted. "One and a half yards, please." She measured and began to cut. Next, a tap on my right shoulder..."Excuse me," the obnoxious lady says in a loud whisper. "I don't know if this applies to you, but make sure they give you the senior discount." Excuse me!?! Really!?! Of course I was rendered speechless...I just stood there with my mouth hanging open...indignant. I took the fabric to the check out counter, waited in line while contemplating what had just happened to me. Do I look like a senior? Yes, I did turn 50 this year and yes my hair color does look grayish/whitish, but a senior?! Really?!
Believe me when I say that I love and admire my friends who fall into the senior category. I'm just not ready to be in THAT club yet. Being mistaken for a senior twice in the span of two weeks isn't a coincidence...it's time to act! Maybe it's time to dye my hair red?
