Monday, 09 June 2008
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Silver-Haired Service - “Wasn’t that nice” I said to Jac.
You realise how fast time is flying by when you have just had the closing ceremony for a ‘significant’ birthday and WHAM! – the next one arrives.
I was dwelling on this when I discovered a whole new and positive dimension to getting oldER.
Last weekend we were on a flight to Sydney. The cabin attendant wandered through the plane, he passed us, but then he stopped and returned. He smiled and leaned towards me.
‘Would YOU like a blanket?” he said in a very kindly manner. Do you know how hard it is to get a BLANKET on a short flight!?
“Isn’t that nice”, I said to Jac.
A 7am departure with a 5am check in gives new meaning to red eyes - when you are a year oldER. Now it is red eyes with a face severely challenged by gravity!
Emerging from the Terminal ar Sydney, an elderly man rushed up to me and said “Give me your bag”.
PANIC! OMG! It's a Bag Snatch!!! – Jac stop him! Quick!
“Relax” said Jac – “did you not consider that he is trying to help you”.
“Isn’t that nice”, I said to Jac.
Jet-lagged (after a 3 hours flight!!!) we wandered around the city and stopped wearily outside a busy café during the lunchtime rush. Indecision. Was this a good place to eat? What was on the menu? Were there any tables?
A waiter, watching our dilemma came to the rescue. He ushered us in to the café, showed us how to order from the counter, found us a table, made suggestions on the SANDWICH we were ordering off the blackboard and even moved a couple of business men in suits who tried to sit at our table. “Oh no,” he shouted waving his arms, “that table is for THIS couple!”
“Isn’t that nice”, I said to Jac.
But where was our hotel? No map, no idea!
It was now 5pm. We stopped a courier as he raced down the street, head hidden behind parcels. “Excuse me. Are we heading in the right direction for Jamieson St?” Jac asked. “Wait there” the courier called, “I will be back soon”. Not only did he return, but he took us to his van, located a map, found the hotel and gave us detailed directions on how to get there.
“Isn’t that nice”, I said to Jac.
“People have been really lovely to us today and I suddenly know why. It is because when they look at us they see an ‘old couple’. We now qualify for the ‘Silver-Haired Service!’.
So I approach my birthday with a whole new attitude.
I don’t feel any oldER so I will take the painkillers for the aching joints, I won’t look in the mirror with my glasses on and I will gratefully accept all the new benefits of Silver-Haired Service’. It is a win – win situation!
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