September 18, 2023 I’ve fallen into a daily routine in my senior years. I’ve become very predictable. In fact, you probably already knew I was going to write that. It was different, though, back when I taught school. Things changed up constantly, and I had to stay on my teaching toes. Some of the biggest changes took place in the early ‘80s. We moved into our new building.  On top of that, our administration figured we might as well try a new schedule. Instead of six 55-minute periods, we’d shave a few minutes off each one …

I was shopping at my favorite tool store when I ran into one of the horticulturists from our county extension center. After we exchanged greetings, she reminded me of the potluck lunches the center hosts every month during the winter for area master gardeners who volunteer in the community garden. I had a perfect non-attendance record for these winter social affairs and hadn’t planned on ruining it anytime soon. But there’s something about a personal invite. I told her thanks, I might come.      A few weeks later, on the day of the next …

My wife is super lucky to have a shopping partner like me. I can peel open those clingy produce bags almost as fast as she can drop in the zucchinis and peppers. I’m about 90% on picking the good melons. And we can usually find the expiration dates on items when we squint together. Once in a while I wander off, though, which can be a problem since the cart wanders with me. The last time I did I ended up in the nut section. (No snarky comments please. It’s the Christmas season. However, since …

It was scary. At the age of 55, within mere days of my birthday, McDonald’s counter workers started serving me senior coffees. Without me asking for them. How did they know? Is that in their training course? Are they told to inspect the ears for hair growth.  Or to be on the lookout for customers with droopy trousers?  Is the shirt buttoned up but each button is one off? That one’s a dead giveaway. That’s probably how they first spotted me. Perhaps they’re told that seniors will be the ones who may look a little …