Photo by Benedikt Geyer on Unsplash

ambivalence

Candace DeLeo

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​Wednesday is senior citizen day
Ten percent off for growing old
A gift to ease the panic
of an unrecognizable face 
and unresponsive body
Keep your condescending discount
I’ll take a ten year age deduction, please

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Candace was born, raised and educated in Massachusetts.  She moved to Northern California and lived and worked in Silicon Valley for 35 years before retiring and moving up to Bainbridge Island in 2018. She is married with one son and is so happy to be living amidst the endless beauty that is Washington State.
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About:  I was shopping and wanted to purchase an item.  The sales person told me if I waited until the next day I would receive a 10% discount because of my age.  As I walked away, I began thinking about our exchange and how I felt about it.
Instead of being elated for the discount, I found myself a bit sad and hurt. I began exploring feelings about my own aging, physically and mentally.  The sometimes flash of anger and frustration when you cannot articulate an idea or perform a movement that at an earlier age was executed with ease and grace.  In the end, the poem allowed me some humor and relief.
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