You are old Father William.....

This is not the story I expected to write today, but that one will wait for tomorrow. I know this begins to sound like a broken record because I bring it up so often, but growing old sucks! Especially when everyone knows it! If I could grow old in secret I’d be happy to, but doing it publicly is what’s bad!


Today’s big deal happened after I left my car to be worked on at the body shop after “Not Another Accident” that I posted on Thursday, August 19. (In case you haven’t read it scroll down and find it.)

I had the appointment at 1:00 p.m. figuring it would take about an hour and I could go and get lunch. I walked by Pizza Hut, Burger King and landed at Wendy’s, my usual fast food of choice. I decided to get a large chili, baked potato with sour cream and chives and a small diet coke, a usual “almost healthy” lunch for me. The woman behind the counter added it all up and said, “I’ve given you the seniors soft drink so there’s no charge and the total will be $4.96 please”. I was stunned!

1. I never knew such a thing existed.

2. Wendy’s had stopped seniors discounts.

3. I never asked for one!

I was assured by the very nice woman that they have replaced the discounts with seniors coffee and soft drinks now, and I didn’t ask for the details. Why me? What had I done? How did she know I was a senior?

I am ruined! All my fantasies of running off with teen queen’s on motorcycles have faded! I am old!

Later on today: I walked into Shoppers Drug Mart to pick up some cold medicine and it's the last Thursday of the month, their seniors discount day. I never even thought about it. The woman behind the counter gave me a 20% discount and I never asked for it! It's hard to complain about discounts but please.......


You are old, father William... by Lewis Carroll 1855


You are old, father William," the young man said,

"And your hair has become very white;

And yet you incessantly stand on your head

Do you think, at your age, it is right?



"In my youth," father William replied to his son,

"I feared it might injure the brain;

But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,

Why, I do it again and again."


"You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before,

And you have grown most uncommonly fat;

Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door

Pray what is the reason for that?"



"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,

"I kept all my limbs very supple

By the use of this ointment one shilling a box

Allow me to sell you a couple?"



"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet;

Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak

Pray, how did you manage to do it?"



"In my youth," said his fater, "I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife;

And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,

Has lasted the rest of my life."



"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose

That your eye was as steady as ever;

Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose

What made you so awfully clever?"



"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"

Said his father. "Don't give yourself airs!

Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs.