A semi-regular passenger of mine is a very active, 60-ish senior who used to work downtown at the Fisher Building. She, along with some of her co-workers, got buyouts and no longer work there. It's disappointed her, but to her credit, refuses to slow down her pace because of it.
She leads the lifestyle of someone half her age. She is one of the biggest Detroit Tiger fans I know. I didn't even have to mention the big names in that big trade conducted last month: she knows who Dontrelle Willis & Miguel Cabrera are, and has even followed their careers. It doesn't appear that she's just finding out her information from newspapers or the web, either. She says these things as if she's been in attendance all these years... and she has been.
She's also a regular bar patron -- allbeit for the ground rounds one bar serves -- but she seems to have more fun there than the general 20-something crowd. I say, bless her for being young at heart.
Yet, some things are strange because of the age. Whenever she gets into the cab, she looks at me and says "what's up, dude?" Whoa! A senior calling me dude, as if she's "one of the guys"?
Not being prejudiced or anything, but it's funny... and yet seems out of place at the same time. Maybe it's just labels people put on the older folk. Not everyone thinks of seniors as those who just spend their time baking cookies & brownies for the offspring. Heck, my dad and stepmom keep very active within their community. And my Aunt Lori? You could put a tether on her and still not know where she is, active as she is.
But when they call you "dude" in small talk, doesn't it make you stop and think? It's hard to get used to, and though it doesn't make me feel uncomfortable in any way, something about it just seems out of place.
I think she'd look perfectly at home at Comerica Park, though. For her sake I hope she doesn't change her ways. Many talk about being young at heart; few actually do it. I'm glad I know one who does.
