I have always seemed to look a little older than I am. Not sure why, but it didn’t hurt when I was a little below the legal age to get into an “R” rated movie or trying to get an adult beverage. Lately, though I have had a couple of instances that have me wondering if I should get some of that “Gray Be Gone” stuff at the drug store.
Many years ago when I was doing some construction engineering on an infrastructure project, the conversation turned to birthdays while the construction crew was eating lunch near the work site. One of the crew member’s birthday was that day and he was telling everyone about his plans for the evening. They sounded like fun and I just listened to see if he had any ideas I might want to try some time. The owner of the company out of the blue looked at me and asked how old I was. At that time I was 25. I had been out of college and working for a few years. I told him my age and he looked a little shocked. He looked at me and said that I must have had a hard life. After the laughter died down, I grinned and went back to my sandwich. I thought about rejecting a whole bunch of his work from that day, but thought better of it and just went on about my business.
It never was much of an issue for a number of years, but lately I seem to be miscategorized more than usual. I was at a meeting recently and was chatting with some folks when one of the guys made a comment about someone that was (as he put it) “our age”. Well, I know how old I am and how old he is and we are about 15 years apart. I guess that gap means less and less as the age climbs.
It really hit home a couple of weeks ago. I was in Wisconsin at a social event. I was at a table with a really nice young couple who were going to be married shortly after this event. They were just a lot of fun to get to know and I think they were really meant for each other. The young lady asked me where I went to college and I told her I attended Michigan Tech from 1977 to 1981 and graduated with bachelor’s degree. Her next question almost made me laugh out loud. She looked at me with the most innocent look and asked, “Did MTU have that Ice Carnival thing way back then?” I couldn’t help but chuckle.
What she was referring to is the multi-day event known as “Winter Carnival.” It has been going on at MTU since 1922. It is a fun event that attracts people from all over the country who attend to see some of the ice sculptures and take part in the fun. I assured the young lady that it was going on while I was attending MTU and added even though it was a couple of years before the campus had running water. She nodded and I could see she filed that little bit of info away for another time.
I know she didn’t mean anything bad by her question, but when dinner was over, I glanced around to make sure I didn’t leave my cane. That “Gray Be Gone” may not be such a bad idea.
And that’s the situation as I survey it …
After a 35-year career downstate amongst da trolls, during which he built a successful engineering and surveying business, John Matonich is back home in da U.P. His column will appear here occasionally, don’tcha know. His book “Surveyin’ Da Situation” is available on Amazon.com.
I guess I have never worried about getting gray or getting older. I have been blessed with a long life of great health. My family is healthy and happy too. I didn’t worry about turning 30, 40 or 50. 60 is getting closer. Hopefully that marker won’t bother me either.
I am getting gray. I have made a good impact on the world in my years. I can’t really complain.
That sounds great, working dad. I am that life has been pretty good…
I feel your pain John. My wife looks fifteen years younger than me, and I look ten years older than my 59 years. I am pretty much white not gray. She’s about three years younger than me. She’s a manager of some pretty young workers mostly in their late teens early twenties. I am pretty sure my wife loved the comment one of her workers made after she introduced me as her husband. After I left the young lady said to my wife, I didn’t know you were married to an older man!!! Older yes but not the way she made it sound. Oh well. I don’t fret about the gray. What I fret about is keeping the gray I got.
I agree about keeping the gray. The alternative isn’t good. I wouldn’t worry too much about your wife looking too much younger than you. My guess is it turns heads in a good way
That she does. After 39 years still turns mine!!
Very cool!!!
John! Please do NOT start dyeing your hair. In my mind, regular American guys do not dye their hair. Too self-indulgent, too fussy. Are you going to chain yourself to the dyeing schedule, every four days or so, to cover up your gray roots? No, please. You are gray now, but you are free.
Would you take your hair dye up to deer camp, and use it in view of your fellow deer hunters? I hope not!
I myself started going somewhat gray, back in college days. I always enjoyed my premature gray, until I grew into it. And, the ladies liked it too. Now, I am just about average for an old guy.
And! When I see some old dude with rich-looking, shining, chestnut-brown hair, it is obvious that the guy stayed up late dyeing his hair. These guys do not fool us. They just look preposterous. Orange hair, too. Preposterous. Not handsome.
You are right on with the dye comments. I could never bring myself to do that and actually glad to have the gray look even if it means I look older than I am
I have to agree, although it’s tempting. But to have any real effect, I’d have to young-up my face, too.
Got a real good laugh out of today’s column. The thing I noticed most when I let my hair go white, after years of coloring it, was the grocery clerks always ask me if I “need help with that?” Never heard that before even though I’ve shopped in the same store for more than 40 years. Overnight I became a little old lady.
I hope you take advantage of the help offers. Never hurts to be treated a little special. I am angling to get into the senior meals here locally 🙂
The fact that you look older gives you Gravitas. They think you are older, because they know you are wiser. It is not how you look. It is your obvious wisdom.
Well put, Tom… thank you
You know your looking and getting older when have young ladies in their twenties opening the door for you. Funny, kinda feels good.
I think that would be cool, Teddy…
You know your looking and getting older when have young ladies in their twenties opening the door for you. Funny, kinda feels good.
Or when they call you “sir.”
For some reason I don’t like the “sir” thing!
I’ve been told that I look 10 plus years younger than I am (turning 52 in November) as I’m only mostly grey in my temples along with very light grey coloring in my hair. Big giveaway is my goatee which is 1/2 grey. If I grow my beard completely out, it comes in damn near ALL grey. ARGH!!!