It surprises me when the dentist tells me that the problem with that tooth is that it's "just old." I get a little annoyed at my annual physical when the list of shots the doctor suggests gets longer every year because "older people" are more susceptible to whatever diseases the vaccines are supposed to counter.
Lately I've been wondering why the news stations on cable TV seem to be hiring high school students as analysts. Or why the adults on TV seem to be retiring. Tom Brokaw. Diane Sawyer. Jay Leno, for heaven's sake. Or why the actresses who always play the young brash girls are getting cast as the mothers of young brash girls.
I just had to give up my "new" computer because it was getting clunky now that Microsoft no longer supports its XP operating system. Didn't I just buy that thing? And why did the IT woman at my last presentation look at it with that funny look while saying "Hmm?" I won't even mention the last time I tried to use overhead slides and asked for an overhead projector. The tech guy asked, "That's a light bulb, right?"
I was in Portland, Oregon last summer and decided to use that mass transit system to get into the city center from my hotel. I was not surprised to find out that being over 65 in Portland makes one eligible for a reduced fare, but was mystified that the designation on the ticket was "Honored Citizen." Jeez. Once downtown, I discovered at the restaurant where I had lunch a special senior menu for "Honored Guests." I can only assume that someday they'll have an Honored Driver lane on the highway. Think about that.
I've got to admit it, these complaints of mine seems pretty lame. I wonder why I am even thinking about stuff like this. There are certainly more important things to complain about. Or, I could not be complaining at all. How about that? Then the word "curmudgeon"comes to mind, and I'm surprised all over again.
