[Koko2]

A decade ago, I was still getting carded for alcohol and coworkers in their early twenties were completely floored that I wasn't their same age when my age came up for discussion.

Now the thrift store cashiers are regularly asking me if I qualify for the senior discount (age 55+).

What happened to this span of time called middle age, that Al Bundian period in one's life defined by expanding waistlines, graying hair and general malaise?

I still dress the same as a decade ago, still have a full head of hair, why do people think some gray hair and wrinkles mean I'm wearing Depends diapers and living in a retirement home? A lot of men below age 50 such as Anderson Cooper and Brett Farve have much more gray hair than me.

[eskielover]

A lot of men below age 50 such as Anderson Cooper and Brett Farve have much more gray hair than me.

& they are probably asked if they qualify for the senior discount also Life can be strange that way. People just seem to ask everyone if they qualify for whatever without really looking t them & assessing anything.

I am truly surprised that one day, you weren't carded for alcohol & the next day asked about being a senior.....you mean there has actually been a whole decade between those days?

Isn't life interesting??????

[shezbut]

Hi Koko2,

I was always mistaken for being in my 20's, until my girls were a couple of years old (and I was in my late 30's). For around 5 years, people weren't shocked by my age...which made me sad. A little part of myself has always enjoyed looking younger than others my age, and those who are 10 years younger!

My physique really didn't change ~ except I was a bit thinner during those years. The only difference that I can think of is that my girls were a huge stress upon me back then. I also had a lot of other stressors (physical and emotional) back then.

I'm 41 now, and people are once again shocked to hear my age. Hopefully, things will turn around for you too!

[Koko2]

Originally Posted by shezbut

I'm 41 now, and people are once again shocked to hear my age. Hopefully, things will turn around for you too!

Thanks, but I think my gray hairs and crows feet are here to stay. I had gray hair back when I was carded, but not enough to notice at a glance. I did a little computer research when I first started getting these comments, and I don't look old for my age. Most men start getting gray hair at age 30 and are 50/50, pigmented/gray, by age 50. I still have mostly hair with pigment and don't have any bald or thinned out spots, but the clumps of gray can dominate if there's bright ceiling lighting because my gray hairs are really white.

But apparently many people don't realize there's this period of one's life called middle age. Even a senior lady about age 70 or 80 asked if I was qualified for the senior discount for tickets at a movie theater. I was dressed much more casually than any seniors in the room (most seniors around here wear the standard Dockers and knit golf polo shirt), so I was fairly taken aback by the query.

Another thought is that maybe most men from age 30 to 55 are dying their hair to cover their gray nowadays, such as my brother-in-laws do, so men who have some gray hair are perceived as older.

The lady who asked me about the senior discount at the thrift store yesterday appeared to be middle aged herself. When I told her I was getting carded a decade ago, she said "so all of a sudden your hair turned gray?" Well, no, my hair isn't all, or even mostly, gray.