A Matter Of Foolish Pride

[poliphilo]

I've long been eligible for the special pensioner's rate that some restaurants offer but yesterday was the first time I ever claimed it. The woman taking our order more or less insisted. It was a package- a main course with a pudding and a cup of coffee. "But I don't want the coffee," I protested, weakly. "Don't worry," said Ailz. "I'll have yours as well as mine."

I asserted a minimum of independence by adding a miniature bottle of wine to my order. There was no special old people's rate on that.

I like being a pensioner, but I don't like being seen as one. I mean to say, did Orson Welles ever claim his pensioner's discount? I doubt it. He just strode out at the end of the meal without paying the bill...

Comments

[basefinder]

I was horrified many years ago when a fast food cashier told the trainee "See the gray in his beard? He gets the SENIOR coffee." (I think I was barely 40 at the time.)

Now I'm just happy to save a dime here and there. And next week I will proudly announce to people that I am a sexegenarian. :-D

[poliphilo]

There's something about the phrase "old age pensioner" or OAP that makes me wince. I don't want people helping me across the road quite yet.

[basefinder]

Over here we use the much gentler term "retired."

[poliphilo]

Retired is better. Much gentler. After all you could be thirty years old and retired.