Shattered Dreams

I remember the first time it happened to hubs and I. We were 50 and went out for lunch. The young assistant asked "do you want the pensioners special"? I was floored, thinking I was looking good for 50. That same year we moved house and the new neighbour asked if we had grandchildren. I said huffily that my children weren't old enough to have children! Now that I am in my sixties and have grandchildren I'm more than happy to brag about them.

I've been mistaken for the sister/girlfriend/partner of both my sons at one time or another. One time, by his friends at the eldest's 21st, another when he booked me into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and on many occasions when meeting youngest at his local train station where we hug and walk out arm in arm to the smiles of the usual ticket guard. He was a bit perplexed when I showed him my senior railcard as he'd thought son's children (my grandchildren) were 'our' children. DS wasn't thrilled when I told him. mind you, that was about 10 years ago. It catches up with you in the end.

Remember my father who was then in his eighties replying to my mothers suggestion they join an older person group,
"I'm not going with those old people"
just all in the mind, usually someone else mind

Caught sight of myself in a mirror yesterday and realised that not only do I feel 10 years older at the moment, I look it! . I first realised I looked old when I went to stay with my younger sister in China and was universally taken for her Mother! Didn’t do my self esteem any good but was very helpful on a practical level as I got help carrying luggage etc. I tell myself that, given what life has thrown at me, I should just be grateful I’m still here and wear my wrinkles with pride.

I had alcohol in my supermarket basket, and the girl on the till rang her bell for the supervisor , and said she needed "An age check".
I was in my 50s and very flattered until I realised she was under age to sell alcohol, and she needed the supervisor to approve the transaction on her till.

Hi Rufus I made this mistake in reverse in the supermarket last week when passing the time of day with two parents (as I thought) of a little girl. It turned out they were the grandparents. They were not flattered to be thought so young.....!

I'm a young grandma (46) and I'm often mistaken for dgds mum! Much to her disgust ?.
I have never in my life been age ID. I was passing for 18 at 13 and 14 and getting into pubs and clubs (and bother) , but I've aged well it seems (for now!)

If we go and stay somewhere together, my daughter offers me the best bedroom, and offers to carry my suitcase upstairs. I suppose I will know I am really old when I downsize the suitcase when travelling by train.

Rufus2 Did the waitress get a tip,?
Glammanana; Not that I noticed! Anyway, tipping is frowned on here; regarded as being demeaning to the recipient's social status in a society where we are all regarded as equal.

I was very disappointed when I bought my first concession ticket on the Gosport ferry and was not asked for proof!

Oops teach me to read more closely Rufus!

Felt old(!) The day I had an x-ray and was not asked if I might be pregnant. . .

I was walking down the back lane with my dog and 3 young lads were kicking a football around. One of them said "watch out for the old lady and the dog". I didn't know whether to be pleased that they moved out to let me past or upset to be called old.

As for the men at the recycling centre...... last time I went there were 3 of them checking driving licences to see if you lived in the right area and no-one to help unload.

Never assume anything then at least you'll keep out of trouble.
I took my DS to a film on his 15th birthday. It was actually a certificate 12 but a good one. He was mortified when I was asked if my DS was 12!!!

I don't even bother to ask for a concession now. They always assume I am old enough

As for the guys at the recycle centre. They are always too busy helping the pretty young women to offer to help me.

I was buying cinema tickets. The assistant asked “any concessions?” I replied -“ yes”- couldn’t think of the correct term and said ”vintage!” Laughter all round.

Having recently moved we have just received our new bus passes and discovered that we can travel on the train and tram without paying as well as the buses. Yet another thing that those living outside the big conurbations miss out on. Sorry, off thread.

Joking apart ....a sad case of shoddy staff training.
You've lost me Hilda; if you mean my traumatic experience, no staff were involved, which is common to all our supermarkets. I like Aldi's products and its prices, but its a DIY store, so you have to take the rough with the smooth and quite often I get sympathetic assistance from other customers if I behave suitably helpless. Shopping on my own has helped me hone some useful skills.
Btw; Hilda was my mother's name, but I never meet many these days, more's the pity. She was always "Mam", never ever "Hilda" (I'm sure we would have stressed the H ) unlike present day kids who bandy our given names around along with "Mate" and "guys"; total disrespect!

Ha! In the library where I worked we used to sell green bags for garden waste, cheaper for the over 60s.
We soon learned never to assume that anyone was over 60, in case of getting it wrong and offending them. Instead, unless it was really obvious, we'd charge the higher rate and wait for them to say, 'Oh, but I'm over 60!'
And then say, 'Goodness, are you? You don't look it!' (Even if they did!).

Ah well, would probably not have happened in Waitrose!
Joking apart ....a sad case of shoddy staff training.

Never mind at least you do not suffer the fate of some of us more mature ladies....we just become invisible....not sure if it happens to gentlemen but I find I am actually walked through by some youngsters.....I blame it on getting fitter and loosing weight!!!

My eldest son is short in the hair department(takes after his dad) hense he looks older than his 42 yrs he took my new grandaughter for her first swimming lesson a few weeks ago and the young lady lifeguard asked him if his grandaughter has been to the lessons before,just wondering what reaction when she starts school and he is at the school gates with all the yummy mummy's.

Rufus2 Did the waitress get a tip,?

The time I went to the cinema and asked for a ticket and was automatically charged the "seniors" price. Getting in for £3 less than the full price did nothing to salve my misery. ?

When I used my over 60s bus pass for the first time I was really upset
Glammanana; I think I've mentioned this one before; Our No.1 son now has his Senior's Card and when we were lunching out the waitress automatically gave him the Senior's menu. He's still in the workforce and wasn't best pleased, but I got a laugh out of it. It's my favourite menu.

One of our grandsons has a job working behind the bar in our local pub whenever he is home from uni. DH calls in with his fishing pals every Wednesday evening to argue the toss discuss who had the best catch of the day.

Last week a round of drinks was ordered and DGS passed a pint to DH, who is the eldest of the gang, saying, 'There you go, Grandpa.'

A woman standing nearby peered over her specs and told DGS that in her opinion he ought to have more respect and did he address all elderly customers that way?

DGS answered politely, 'No, because they wouldn't be my grandfather....He is!'

Rufus2 When I used my over 60s bus pass for the first time I was really upset.
I have always thought I looked younger than my true age with my long blonde hair and jeans/boots so when I got on said bus I half expected the driver to question my age !!!
He did no such thing just said "move along the bus please before we set off". How to be shot down in a couple of words.