Age Is Just A Number

Say what you have to say, not what you ought. Any truth is better than make-believe. - Thoreau

Growing up, we would take typical family summer vacations, visiting different states and their various sights, attractions, parks, museums, amusements etc. Oftentimes, these places charged a fee.  The price of admission would often be free for children of a certain age and under.  On one such trip, we visited several places (usually one per day) with stipulations such as, "Children 12 and under free."  The free ages would vary.

My mother tells the story of how at each ticket window she would read the sign and then "assign" me the free age.  So one time I would be twelve years of age, another time eleven and another time 10.  Eventually, we reached one gate and I turned to my mother and asked, "Mommy, how old am I today?" ...

Author's Note

"Poetry implies the whole truth. Philosophy expresses a particle of it." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Rhayne]

My Dad used to say, 'what's in age but wisdom and experience'. This sort of happened to me once on a vacation to Fort Fisher near Carolina Beach, NC. There was a Civil War museum there that he loved to go to every year and kids under 12 got in free. I had turned thirteen in February and we showed up at their door in July as usual and the ticket lady smiled at me when Dad said I was 12. There was no way I was passing for 12 again. I've always looked older than I am (my b***s always gave that impression, lol). Ticket lady laughed and told my Dad that she remembered us from the year before and that she was questioning his truthfulness then too. He turned redder than me. She laughed again and still let me in free. Sometimes it doesn't take words from the child's mouth to speak volumes. That day, my Dad said his 'wisdom' failed him.

Love your story, Pete.

[Pete]

a lot of people don't like to reveal their true age - perhaps this was your training lol, when asked her age, my mom would always answer, "twenty-nine". she's been twenty-nine for over 50 years now. thank you for relating rhayne. hoping that there's always enough room for the candles on your birthday cake (lol - just kidding) ... :)

[Rhayne]

ha ha, too late. I always tell my daughter, 'don't bake it til it's done. The candles will finish it.'

[kirksmurf]

This is so interesting to me, as it happened on my 13th birthday. A family of five, 2 adults and 3 kids. 12 and under free and it was my 13th birthday. My dad says "not until 4 o'clock this afternoon". Thanks, my friend for this trip down memory lane. They don't always have to be happy memories.

[Pete]

lol. your dad's remark made me laugh. didn't realize how relatable this would be when i wrote it. thank you for sharing thoughts ... :)

[Beccy]

Wonderful!

Out of the mouths of babes was never better put; but I have to confess, my parents were not immune to such economies of truth.

Beccy.

[Pete]

Lol. thanks Beccy. good to know that we weren't the only ones. lying has its advantages but confession is good for the soul ... :)