Bebo the Bull: Lessons from the senior citizen aisle

Right now, I’m sure the most relevant topic in all of our lives and businesses is dealing with the coronavirus, COVID-19.
But as they say, laughter is the best medicine, so I hope my column can give everyone a chuckle or at least a little smile to brighten their day.
Turning old is inevitable, we all know that! 
When we are teenagers we can’t wait to turn 18, then it’s 21, and from that point on, most of us dread getting a year older.
Another aspect when you’re young is you look forward to going to dances.
But the untold rule is, you have to wait until about 9 p.m. or later to get started and not get home probably until after 1-2 a.m.
And at that age we could all recover pretty quickly after a late night of fun.
Well, now that I am at that age to be considered a senior citizen because my birth certificate says so, I am enjoying going to the senior citizen dances that start at 7 p.m. and end by 10:30 p.m.
I never thought I would embrace claiming I am a senior citizen, but then I began to receive the much-appreciated senior discount.
You go to a store or out to eat or whatever or wherever it might be and they give you the price of something and then they say in a soft, sheepish way “unless you are a senior citizen,” at which time all of a sudden, once again, just like when you were young, you are happy to whip out that ID to prove your age.
If you are 55 or over and have ever eaten at IHOP you are overjoyed to finally order from the 55+ menu, and to top that off they never even question you about your age.
And like their breakfast item “Rise and Shine,” you sit up straight, rise and shine to the occasion, and embrace the moment.
I have let my hair go gray over the past few years and now it seems to be a trend of not only the “senior citizens” but the younger generation dyeing their hair to get that color that we fought for decades to conceal.
Yes, there are the wrinkles, aches and pains, etc. that go along with becoming a senior citizen, but overall it is not too bad.
Now scientists have discovered the adage of “you’re only as old as you feel” might actually be true. A study showed that those who feel younger than they really are will live longer.
So as for that, I will embrace my age, stay active and keep smiling!