Aging, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This yard ornament made me think of Florida.  Florida made me think of old people. Old people made me think of me.

I went into my town hall the other day to renew my annual beach permit. Usually, it's $25 for the year. This year however, it was only $5.  It seems I get the senior citizen discount.  In the mail, I received my monthly copy of the AARP magazine.  This week is my 45-year anniversary of graduating from high school. My first social security check is expected by the beginning of next month.

These events have led me to an unmistakable conclusion.  I am, both mathematically and by society standard, an old man.  How can this be?  It seems like it was just yesterday that I became old enough to shave, or drive a car, or buy beer, or vote in elections.  I don't feel like an old man. Reluctantly though, I concede that I do look like one - gray hair, spots on the back of my hands, wild eyebrow and ear hairs, increasingly forgetful.......you get the idea.

I read that GenX and Millennials now outnumber us Baby Boomers. How can that be? We Boomers ruled the world and were going to fix everything - but we didn't, and now we can't. Every generation gradually passes into irrelevance. I guess our turn has come.

I think I'll take a walk and think about it some.

Visual Definition: dreary - wet, windy, cold, and gray - notice there is only one person walking on the beach (besides me). Sensible folks are at home or work.

The silver lining to dreary days, however, is the light - it is shadow-less and the colors are deeply saturated - I like that.

Getting old really isn't such a bad thing - it certainly is better than the alternative.

Note: all images made with my cellphone.