83 was getting serious.
Now I was being practically pushed to accept seats in a crowded bus.
A friend of similar years always accepted their kind offer.
But for me acceptance meant I accepted the way they saw me.
like planning to become a global multi-millionaire ....in one year!
Because,,, although I was going to live till 97 - like Iris Apfel - I could go the next day.
So every day counted. I couldn't think "old."
I found a way to stop the offers dead in their track in order to protect my own head space.
When a person offered me a seat in the bus, i gracefully declined.
"OOOOOOO. that's so nice of you. But I've got to stand.
You see, I'm practising my balance for skiing "double diamonds!"
One guy pulled my bluff.
"Oh," he said. "It's such a long time since I've skied.
How much are they charging for a lift ticket?!!"
DEH!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had another strategy all together for waiting for the bus.
When the bus stopped and young people stood aside to let me pass first,
I waved them ahead. "You go first. You're older than me!"
The first reaction OF A 22 YEAR OLD was "STUNNED"
AND THEN SHE BROKE OUT INTO LAUGHTER and went ahead.
(of course I was very careful.
I didn't make the same offer to a person who was around 60 but looked like 83!
