Time has been unkind

I had a really hard time with my age this week. I went to Publix and bought a sandwich combo for lunch. When I got to the register a sign was on the register indicating that seniors’, (age 60) were entitled to a discount. As the lady started ringing up my sale she looked me over and stated, “I assume you get the senior discount”. I looked at her indignantly and coldly replied that her assumption was wrong and that I was only’ 59 and would not be 60 until November. She said, “That is only a couple of months from now and since it is so close I’ll just go ahead and give it to you anyway”. “No thanks” I replied, “I don’t mind paying full price”. Earlier that day I had received some photographs that were taken at a recent event that I had attended. I looked old and decrepit in the photos and this further confirmation that I am over the hill nearly put me in a sour mood. OK it did put me in a sour mood.

Back in my dark days I did not expect to live to see thirty. Now I am fast approaching sixty. It is difficult to grow old and many of us stubbornly try to retain our youth. Billions of dollars are spent on wrinkle remover, hair coloring, plastic surgeons who nip and tuck/stretch and pull and a host of other industries built around the insatiable quest of people trying to retain their youth.

When I was in my late thirties I was prematurely gray and spent some money with this industry myself. I decided to color my hair. I bought some Just for Men’ and lathered up. I also dyed my eyebrows which were already gray. I am not detail oriented and did not bother to do much more than quickly scan the hair coloring directions with my usual one hundred thousand foot executive level scan’. I was taking a bath while my hair was being colored and the nice hot bath was soothing and I let the time get away from me. Eventually I washed the coloring out of my hair and then stepped to the mirror to inspect my new look. When I looked in the mirror I physically recoiled and jumped back about a foot totally aghast! My hair and eyebrows were deep jet black. I looked like Roy Orbison or perhaps an Elvis impersonator. I panicked and immediately tried to wash it out; however it would not wash out. When I walked into work the next day there was not a dry eye in the workplace. People were rolling on the floor laughing until tears were flowing. When I walked down the hall people would take one look at me and they would burst out laughing. I nearly went into seclusion because I looked absolutely ridiculous for several weeks as the dyed hair was slowly replaced by new growth.

That humiliating experience taught me that one cannot escape the ravages of time. I realize that nothing we do can really prevent the aging process and that we might as well just accept it and be glad we get the senior discount when it is offered. I do work out and try to stay healthy, but the gray and the wrinkles will just have to stay. I am determined to try and stay cheerful even when faced with getting old. Fine wine is old wine. The Bible states that white hair is a crown of glory and equates it to wisdom. So at least that is a little good news for this situation

Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the
bones.