Medicare, Here I Come!

I passed a milestone this week.  I used my Medicare card for the very first time.

I was a tad reluctant to hand it over to the pharmacy clerk.  In my mind it means I'm teetering on the threshold of geezer hood -- a mere six days til I'm officially 65 -- and when you flash that little red, white and blue card everyone knows it.   I feel like I'm toting a freakin' American flag.  Could they not have chosen more muted colors?  Perhaps something in a shade of grey -- now that's symbolic.

Yes, I know I worked my entire adult life to "earn" the card but it feels akin to Hester Pryne sporting that capital "A" on her chest.  Make mine an "O" for old or an "S" for senior or an "E" for elder -- whatever bit of alphabet works.  Just no "TA" for Third-Ager as suggested in a recent article -- a term that makes me want to down a Costco size bottle of Rolaids.

Frankly, I think we'll always be Boomers even when we're pushing walkers and wearing adult diapers. We're a demographic within a demographic and we'll be studied to death as we age.  Actually I'm feeling more like a pioneer, what with being in the first wave and all.  I'll keep you posted on my journey.