How I Know I Am Older

by Tom Damron
(Plano, Texas)

Or, Oh, My God! When Did I Begin Talking To Myself?

The first inkling of aging came when my barber casually remarked one morning while I sat in his chair getting my locks shorn: "Tom, you certainly have an abundantly full head of gray hair for your age."

Wisely, I didn't turn my head to object or comment because that's a dangerous move while someone holds a razor near your carotids. You see, I remembered the name of his shop --"The Razor's Edge." I waited several minutes until the razor was in my sight and asked, "Mike, is having abundant hair unusual at, as you say, my age?

He dropped the razor in the bowl and whispered, "Yeah, I think probably so, but I'm not certain because I don't have any other customers as old as you," and then he quickly turned away and laughed. Even in his mirth, his statement was a stimulating turning point in my thoughts as well as my life.

From then on, I took time to examine other elderly men as I tried to judge the amount of hair they had compared to the amount I have on my head. I had to agree that Mike was right.

Most men of my age grouping have either vast bald areas or the hair is so thinning on top, it is soon to be history. Comb-over's--think Donald Trump--are obvious with many of those in the thinning process who desperately attempt to disguise the vast bald desert that shines in the light above their ears.

As for my gray abundant hair; I proudly walk a little taller now without the traditional 'Gimme' cap worn by so many of the others who are in my age group.

The hair check unfortunately brought home another, even more disturbing revelation that I was unaware of until while standing in a shopping line one afternoon a stranger asked me a pointed question while we waited.

It occurred soon after I stood back and watched another old fellow buying an ice cream cone in the free-standing shop next to our line. The woman turned to me and asked what I had said. When she asked the question, I was staggered to realize I had been talking to myself. out loud, in line, in the Mall!

The disastrous recognition was the worst part; I talked without knowing it!

It triggered my memory when I realized I was doing as I had caught my Dad doing when he hit seventy-five, forty-five years ago. Wow! I'm already seventy-nine. Which makes it really depressing to me.

I clearly remember him in his recliner busily talking to himself as he polished his shoes. When I asked him what he was saying he got all huffy and snapped, "What kind of a question is that? I wasn't talking. I'm busy doing my shoes." I responded with an off-hand, "Well, maybe you were singing." His answer flew back rapidly, "You know durned well I can't sing. You must be hearing things, Anthony."

Ah, yes. Anthony. My middle name. His rich Uncle. Using that name was the code word in our relationship that meant "Mind your own durned business." That was a true sign of the close fellowship we enjoyed in his elderly years.

Not that there's anything wrong about talking--or singing--to oneself. My nine year-old Grandson does it all the time. But, Geez! I'm seventy-nine and to realize that I converse with an imaginary friend all day long is somewhat disconcerting and an affront to my dignity. The only salvation is that my imaginary friend gives me mostly highly intelligent answers, and that is more than I can say about some of my real-life friends.

-- OH MY GOODNESS, TOM, I can't stop laughing.. you are a hoot... Wendy ---

Take it from me, when you become aware of your verbal exchanges in public, the first thing you are going to do is cautiously glance all around while wondering if anyone heard you, hoping against hope.

I do, and when that happens, I vividly picture myself as the homeless character, shopping cart piled full, shuffling down alleyways drooling, mumbling to myself as I search the dumpsters behind McDonald's for half-eaten hamburgers and a few fries with that. I straighten my back and say out-loud, "There, except for the grace of God, go I." Whoa! I sneakily look around again to see if anyone nearby heard that remark, extremely relieved that no one is eying me suspiciously.

Back home, I get on the Internet to check my e-mail. Reading what a few friends have sent grabs my attention and I am absorbed in the content of the message when I suddenly awaken and ask myself-- "Who are you talking to?" I once more caught myself red-handed. My thoughts, not my voice, answers, "No one. I was repeating a few lines of the message I am reading. Why do you ask?" I mentally answer, 'Because you're becoming your Dad, that's why."

Unconvinced, with that answer, I confess that, "I would have sworn it was more of a conversation than the words of a message, that's why. Are you positive you weren't talking out loud to yourself once again, Thomas?"

Light Heartedly, I responded to my statement, "Well, if I were talking to myself, it had to be a high level important delivery to a sharp, savvy listener, wouldn't you agree?"

Okay, I'll admit that since this now seems to be an ongoing unconscious reaction on my part, I needed to begin searching for a foolproof solution.

Accidentally one day, I stumbled on to the perfect answer while sitting in a Starbucks. Observing a thirty-something web-surfer at the next table, I thought I saw him talking to himself until I became aware of the bug in his ear. He spoke for a few minutes longer and I watched him tap it, and then quit talking.

That's when it hit me! Blu-Tooth! That's my answer. A Blu-Tooth device. I confess I have no idea what blu-tooth is or how it works. I only know that I am now carrying on my unconscious conversations, confident that those who catch me conversing with myself, will happily sport a knowing smile to see a man with a full head of gray and a black blu-tooth bug sticking in his ear.

If they still seem skeptical, I tap it! I shut up! Problem solved.

Since I solved my talking situation, I still survey older men's hair, and I'm happy to report that I'm still winning.

But, I often wonder what all those people would think if they found that my bug isn't connected to a cell phone...

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