i’m not old but mature
By ossie16d
@ossie16d (11821)
Australia
January 27, 2007 10:07am CST
This was sent to me by a dear friend and I thought I would share it with all of you. :)
Today at the drugstore, the clerk was a gent.
From my purchase this chap took off ten percent.
I asked for the cause of a lesser amount;
And he answered, "Because of the Seniors Discount."
I went to McDonald's for a burger and fries;
And there, once again, got quite a surprise.
The clerk poured some coffee which he handed to me.
He said, "For you, Seniors, the coffee is free."
Understand---I'm not old---I'm merely mature;
But some things are changing, temporarily, I'm sure.
The newspaper print gets smaller each day,
And people speak softer---can't hear what they say.
My teeth are my own (I have the receipt),
and my glasses identify people I meet.
Oh, I've slowed down a bit...not a lot, I am sure.
You see, I'm not old...I'm only mature.
The gold in my hair has been bleached by the sun.
You should see all the damage that chlorine has done.
Washing my hair has turned it all white,
But don't call it gray...saying "blond" is just right.
My car is all paid for...not a nickel is owed.
Yet a kid yells, "Old duffer...get off of the road!"
My car has no scratches...not even a dent.
Still I get all that guff from a punk who's "Hell bent."
My friends all get older...much faster than me.
They seem much more wrinkled, from what I can see.
I've got "character lines," not wrinkles...for sure,
But don't call me old...just call me mature.
The steps in the houses they're building today
Are so high that they take...your breath all away;
And the streets are much steeper than ten years ago.
That should explain why my walking is slow.
But I'm keeping up on what's hip and what's new,
And I think I can still dance a mean boogaloo.
I'm still in the running...in this I'm secure,
I'm not really old ... I'm only mature.
12 people like this
41 responses
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
In answer to your question, it is because we can hide our bodies under clothing but not our heads. Soon as we forget something someone will say "that's old age". LOL
I am not old at all and have no intention of even considering getting old for at least another 50+ years. I am sure that your friends will enjoy this one AskAlly, and no doubt have a laugh at it. Pass it around I think and let everyone take the words to heart "we are mature, not old".
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
Oh deebomb even 80 is not old. I am 56 years MATURE now (just adopted that phrase as distinct from being 56 years YOUNG) and I think maybe I might be old in another 50+ years. My friends are not getting old but the young (like our sons friends in their 30's) are still KIDS. LOL
1 person likes this
@chaluram (72)
• India
28 Jan 07
even I couldn't stop myself from reading till end.
Old age is problem for some
and for some it is gain,
Gain of experience carried from past,
past which has a knowledge vast,
words of wisdom for you future
listen to seniors as they are pure,
don't let them down, what they are today
will be you tommorrow,
give them happiness and not thy sorrow.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Good one we can all learn and benefit from no matter what our age.
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Ossie, I'm also "mature", not "old". We have no problem getting our senior discounts here in FL, but they usually offer them to my hubby first (and he's younger than I am). It's because his beard and mustache are gray and his hair is thinning and graying...finally. My hair is light brown with highlights (gotta cover the gray...not ready for it). My sister gave me a t-shirt with this on it, and I love to wear it: "Senior Citizen - Gimme my disount!" It does get a lot of chuckles.
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
Claudia, I too would proudly wear such a tee-shirt, because it is true. I really like the fact that your husband gets offered the senior discount first. In fact friends of ours who do a lot of travelling also get discounts and have done for years because the husband has grey hair and a grey beard. Says it saves him a fortune, because people just assume that he fits into the category. :)
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
Isn't it funny the way the word "old" changes meaning as we proceed through life?
When we are very young, a 30 year old is really ancient. By the time we reach 30 we look at 60 as being old - until we get to 60, that is. I am now 70 but I am still not old.
I am reminded of a golden wedding anniversary I went to recently. On arrival I looked around and commented to my husband, "Everyone here is OLD. Where are the young people?" It wasn't long before I realised that everyone there was around the same age.
To borrow the words from another post: Age is not a number.
1 person likes this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
Definately agree with your thinking about how the meaning of "old" changes as we mature in years and many times I have commented on the same thing. Now we need to make sure that everyone used the words "mature" and not "old" as it is certainly more appropriate I think. :)
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
28 Jan 07
That was great ossie.
Some people are young in their heart and mind, they can stop their mind from gtting old, that is the best thing about life. Evry one can't do that. But sometime stuation makes them feel that they are geting old, this is definitly not a good feeling.
1 person likes this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
Yes sweetlady it is sad that people feel they are getting old when in fact they have life experience. But I am definately considering myself to be mature in future, not that I have ever thought of myself as old anyway, but this just reinforces my views. :)
@ashjoe76 (1422)
• India
29 Jan 07
This poem is great. It shows clearly how 'age' or 'ageing' is just a state of mind. Usually we hear a lot about this from teenagers who are excluded from both the adult world or children's world. But this is the first time I hear something so systematic and moving from the side of the so-called old quarters! there is a subtle sense of humour all through the poem and a very emphatic statement the 'ageism' sucks.
@Only1Andrea (796)
• United States
29 Jan 07
This is such a wonderful poem. It makes getting "mature" seem easy and puts a lovely twist to the way people should think as thay "mature" gracefully.
Thanks so much for sharing!!
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
29 Jan 07
You are right in that it changes the way people can think and the poem actually says it very nicely too. Actually I am maturing disgracefully = none of that being graceful at all about it. I am only on this earth once, and plan to make the most of it while I can. LOL
@sweetie88 (4556)
• Pakistan
28 Jan 07
Cooooooool.
I read it. A good choice is sent to u by urs friend!!!!! I remembered another e-mail which urs friend sent to u once and u shared it here on mylot. I'll simply say to u that plz keep on sharing such good e-mails with us whenever u receive them!!!!!
Greetingfs to u aunt!
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
28 Jan 07
Thanks for the verse, its so thrilling to read
To give me assurance, this is what I need
Other mylotters will agree I am sure
I am not really old. I'm only mature.
The computer keys so not soft, just no right
The old typewriters which I pecked with such might
This is why the typos creep into the page
I am now more mature, this is not old age.
@anshulapple (103)
• India
28 Jan 07
Maturity and old age are two different concepts . And I can see that your concepts about life are very clear . To "Mr. Nobody" .
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
28 Jan 07
when a person really gets old, some don't want to accept that they're old, they equate old to being mature. just like the poem, it is not about being old, rather it is about being matured. some day, we will really get to this point in our life, and when that day comes, i too will say that i'm not old yet, i've gained wisdom and matured so much. also, at least in the poem, they show respect for the senior citizens, in some countries, they even need to show some id to show a proof of senior citizenship.
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
29 Jan 07
Several people have mentioned that in their country they need to produce ID to prove they are actually senior citizens. We have a similar thing here in Australia too, but most people have what is called a "Seniors Card" when they reach 60. There is no fuss and if someone shows their card, then that is enough for them to get the discounts that are available for "seniors".
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Jan 07
Yeah. I believe also you are as old as you feel. My husband also has gray hair but he acts younger than me. He started graying in his mid 20's. He recently turned 50 and trying to plan for his retirement. He doesn't look at his age to hold him back. to me, he still does eveything a young person would do. He still lives and loves life to the fullest each day and lord forbid you to take his hunting "deer" away. It is so nice to see someone you think may have aged, get out there and enjoy life as it is today.
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
29 Jan 07
Good on your husband because we are truly able to enjoy life, even though the youth of today often think that we are "past it" once we reach a certain age. I enjoy life and before receiving this I used to say I was 56 years YOUNG, but it will now be MATURE. :)
