AARP’s Here – Does That Mean I’m Old?
Monday Confessional
I handed my husband the newly arrived AARP magazine with a smirk on my face. He handed it back to me and his smirk was bigger. It had my name on it. What? One wasn’t suppose to get AARP literature until they were at least fifty. I had just barely turned forty-nine. Talk about pushy! I resented the implication that I was old. So I taught AARP a lesson – I refused to read anything that bore their logo.
A few months later an article touted on the glossy AARP magazine cover caught my attention. I took a quick peek. To my annoyance, I found it interesting.
And so it began. Reading an occasional article expanded to flipping through the magazine, stopping at regular features. Then I was reading the monthly bulletin – ensnared by the condensed summaries on relevant (to my world) topics. Before I knew it I was (gasp!) quoting facts learned from AARP publications and cutting out articles to send to friends/family I thought would benefit from the wisdom.
Now, as a proud card-carrying AARP member, I’m not shy about pulling out proof of my age to ask it I’m entitled to a discount based on it. (Recently there was a special one
– month-long 30% off for a restaurant I planned to visit; the regular AARP discount was 15% – still pretty good if you’re going anyway). I am also not shy about sharing links to helpful health articles such as 10 Tests to Avoid (common medical tests that reap financial reward for providers but have dubious benefit for patients) and inspirational or uplifting interviews such as the one with Jane Pauley. Don’t be surprised if you see more tips, quotes, and links in this blog that include the words “as seen at AARP!”
You know you’re over 50 when: you find yourself looking forward to reading the last page of AARP magazine to see what notable person is reaching a birthday milestone.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK! – El
Boy, can I identify with this! I’m well past 50 now, but I still remember the shock when my AARP card arrived in the mail. My husband (the accountant) is the only person I know who was actually excited to get it–so he could take advantage of the discounts!
PS – The Retirement Village People cartoon…HILARIOUS!
If you met my mom you would have a total of two excited AARP-card recipients! In their traveling days, my folks would pick a hotel and my father (a man who pays the stated price and gets on with his business) would sit in the car while my mother went in and did her negotiating schtick – hitting senior-citizendom gave her more fodder! -El
Who throws AARP mail in the trash? I sheepishly raise my hand. Maybe I should give them another look. 😉
Thanks for the link to the ten tests.
At least the last page of the glossy magazine – how else will you know what celeb is turning a fabulous fifty, sexy sixty, or scandalous seventy??? -El
Love AARP. My KISA (knight in shining armor) is older than me, so we’ve been getting it since I informed him “Yes, you ARE old enough.” I agree it’s full of interesting and relevant information, and we do take advantage of hotel discounts when we travel. That “10 Tests” article actually reinforced some of my own suspicions (no doubt inherited from a certain almost-90-year-old!)
No doubt – aren’t we blessed to have ‘inherited’ such critical thinking?? Love “KISA” by the way – with the built in kiss!