PLUS SIDE OF WHITE HAIR

I know it is really easy to moan about aging. Chronic pains creep in.  Serious disease that requires expensive medication may take up residence.  Perhaps just the not being able to do the things we use to do with ease or sometimes at all can darken a day. So where are the pluses you ask?

I personally  think there are almost as many pluses as minuses. I no longer live tied to the clock--well except on doctor appointment or luncheon days. I no longer work for a living. Every month a check magically appears in my bank account that I did not work for. But you say--that check was earned years ago.

I never thought of those FICA payments I made for 46 years as being my future. I felt it was my way of helping to take care of my grandparents and then my parents in an almost painless way. Now it is the job of my younger relatives to take care of me in the same way. Thanks kids.

I know some of you keep as busy now if not more so than when you worked. I don't try to fill my dance card daily and love this freedom to time manage.  But besides that freedom, there are other pluses to this white hair period.

When we ladies were younger the opposite sex would come to our aid fairly easily. Just standing by a car on the side of the road with a flat tire and in no time, gentleman of all ages would stop to help.

As we packed on a few more years and pounds on, the wait on the side of the road became a wee bit longer but rescue always came. Chivalry is not dead.

Then as we became AARP eligible, it was usually the youngish man who stopped to help as he mentioned that you reminded him of his mother or even--gasp--his grandmother.

Finally the hair turned white and all sorts of opportunities opened up. Everyone stops quickly now to help--- including men and women of all ages.  Doors are opened not in a flirtatious manner but in a helpful one that will make the opener feel good about themselves for the rest of the day. It becomes almost impossible to lift anything heavy in public.  Seats are offered on public transportation.  We have fallen into the same category as pregnant women.

Yep, I'm a white headed old lady and am working it. I no longer have to ask for help in the garden center. All I have to do is stand by the large bags of garden soil that once were easy to lift but not so much today. I can still lift them but it isn't pretty. Even folks who don't work there help me.

I had one of my car's headlights burn out this week so I went to the auto store to get a replacement. The young fellow behind the counter offered to put it in for me and I let him. All he wanted was a big smile and to feel good. I gave him the first gratefully and am pretty sure he enjoyed the latter.

Last week I took my sick lawnmower to the dealer who has worked on it before. He listened to me briefly, diagnosed the problem and was able to fix it in a few minutes without even unloading it from the trailer.  "No charge," he insisted with a big grin.

White hair is now my money maker. I am certainly not helpless but I have no problem accepting help with heavy lifting and enjoy the opportunity of making someone fell good about themselves.

You men know where you fit in this post and we love you for it.  Most of you are still in the getting to feel good about yourselves stage. Lucky for us, along with the desire for sex,  helpfulness seems to be the last thing to go. And if you have reached a time when you need to lean heavily on a younger or healthier woman, relax and enjoy for you have earned it. Your dues are paid in full.

You women who have hit this milestone know I speak the truth. Those of you who are too young yet, just realize that age may take away many things but it also gives a pretty nice consolation prize beyond free time and senior discounts. Get ready to enjoy and take advantage.

Do you enjoy the benefits of age or are you are still a youngster (anyone under 70 in my books) and are the first to volunteer to help us white haired ones?