Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/246028
The Middle of the Road: By Randy Peters, a middle-aged, middle-income, middle-school teacher Getting older means wrinkles, gray hair and senior discounts There are certain times in our life that we are reminded of the rain with Prince, pout with Jan Brady otherwise known as Eve Plumb, laugh with Ellen DeGeneres, play truth or dare with or showering with the lights on exposes the wrinkles, thinning Madonna, dance and sing with Kevin Bacon and Shaun Cassidy, hair, and shifting that reminds us that things are not how they or do who-knows-what with Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue. It's used to be. I never minded growing older. I am blessed with an interesting group. my dad's genes that have kept me looking younger than some I understand that 55 opens up a range of financial possibilities of my contemporaries. However, the time has come to reflect as well. I can live in Sun Park or one of the other 55 and older on this aging process. neighborhoods in town. There are all kinds of discounts that It seems every time I go to the doctor these days, there is are available to us 55-and-olders. I will now be shopping at some new medication that gets prescribed for some new Ross on Tuesdays for a 10 percent discount. I'll be taking number that is out of normal range. advantage of a 10 percent discount at Denny's and getting my Jimmy has been cutting my hair for 27 years. He used to say that he could hide some of the gray that was coming in. Now he I don't know if I feel 55. Practically speaking, I shouldn't just looks at me, smiles, and says that at least the gray is taking know because I've never been 55 before. But I know I am not over evenly. done. I still have so much to do, I'm not sure I'll get it all done. I Years ago I was once told that I had a cute teddy bear know I want to write more. I have at least two books in me. I've tummy. According to most fitness articles I've read lately, that been kicking around an idea for a book to help train teachers, expanded tummy is now the holding area for potential deadly and I keep running a plot for a fictional novel over and over consequences. again. All of these examples can be fixed. In fact, fixing them I have so much to learn about painting. Every time I meet has become part of my daily routine. I imagine that if I am my artist friends to paint at Rachal's Art Center I get so excited successful, it will slow down this part of the aging process. But to learn what they are all doing and how they are doing it. It is it won't slow down another part. No matter what I try, I can't a fantastic way to be creative. slow down the calendar. I keep watching for the next opportunity to get on stage. I've I've tagged 2014 as an important year a long time ago. As a been fortunate to have some great roles in the past and can't teacher, the year is significant because that is the year the Bush wait to try something new on stage in the future. administration said no child would be left behind. By 2014 all My kids are becoming experts in photography and sound children in the United States would be average or above. design. Watching them grow, learn, and experience life keeps Somewhere in the peaks and valley of my brain, I marked me young and encourages me about what the future will hold 2014 as the first year that I would be eligible to retire. I would for all of us. have more than 30 years teaching and I would hit my 55th Since we were younger, I've always told my beautiful bride birthday. But, I knew I wasn't going to retire in 2014. We still to grow old with me because the best is yet to be. I don't know have two kids finishing up in college. We are not going to down- how the future can possibly be any better with her, but I know size our house or living situation. Regardless of the number of that together there are always possibilities. It's going to be a people who ask, I am not retiring yet. I kept telling myself that great ride. I would be nowhere old enough. I'm young. I'm vital. I'm only Keep your eyes on the road. going to be 55. Well, this month, I'm turning 55. I'm turning the time people are reading this I may have already turned 55. That's only half a decade from 60. I've been in AARP for five years already. It's been five years since the mandatory "50-yearold-let's-go-exploring-test" at the doctor's office. Do I have to do that again? Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. At least I'm not alone in this. Some rather famous people are on this same journey. I can turn 55 and enjoy the purple 14 OUR YUCAIPA | FEBRUARY 2014