I didn’t just suddenly

get old!

I only,

just recently realized

that after a lifetime of aging,

I AM!

Not even can I hide behind

that cheesy hope that I am only

“getting older!”

Nope!

Truth won’t let that lie lay lightly.

I’m finishing my 77th year,

entering my 78th.

That’s just 2 away from 80

and that’s a graduation into

REALLY OLD.

So, let those 50 year old youngsters

call me, “Sir”

and that 60 year old

hold the door for me at the market

and the cashier ask if I need help

to carry my bags to my car!

Let ’em all line up behind me

as I slow motion step down the stairs

at the cin-a-muck cinema

where I just happily used

my senior discount coupon

for a ticket and a large popcorn with a large coke and rasin-etts and a pretzel!

What?

Ya think that’s gonna make me die before my time?