Decades ago I reached a milestone — I became eligible for a senior discount. As daunting as this was, I decided to look at the positives. The first one I embraced was the money I could save on movies, concerts and certain shopping days. A few days after that birthday, I went to a movie with a friend. As we approached the ticket counter, I felt uneasy, but I asked for my senior ticket. My friend, who was my age, did not. As we walked across the lobby, I asked her why and she said, “I wasn’t comfortable asking.”

A few months after that incident, I was in Minneapolis about to board a bus. As I stepped on the platform, I noticed a sign posting a special price for seniors. When I reached the conductor, I asked him for my senior fare. He answered, “Prove it.” I was carrying my purse and shopping bags, and the bus was crowded, so I had to hang on to a pole to retrieve my driver’s license. In retrospect, I think that conductor had issues. I was obviously no ingenue, maybe I looked 50 instead of 55, but to question a mature woman over this was petty. Of course, I could just have paid the full fare.

The reason I’m revisiting this incident is I think real seniors, not those youngsters of 55, deserve more financial benefits. I’ll arbitrarily suggest people over the age of 75. This target group is small, but could use something extra: perhaps a slight discount on property tax (delusional) and half price at the movies (possible).

Ideas, anyone?

Eileen Gallo

Kenosha