Bayou,
Probably noticed that there are progressive rites of passage thru life in our semi civilized western culture.
Can't wait till you can buy beer legally. They card you every time you try to get a drink.
Then, they card you sporadic, not every time. They are trained to look for gray hair, excessive wrinkles, signs of old age.
Then they stop carding you. Sign that your journey through time is undergoing change. Always bought my beer from the Fred Meyer chain because there was a cute chick that always carded me. Wink and a smile.
Then you go into a Starbucks or the GoodWill and they ask you if you are eligible for a senior discount.
As entropy progresses, they just look at you and give you the senior discount no questions asked.
Then the junk AARP mailers, life insurance fire sales for those about to croak.
Crowning glory is the cremation and burial mailers. Pay now, die later. They got your number.
By this time if you have lived life good, the cremation offers are less a wakeup call, trauma, than when they stopped carding you for beer.
Life and death such a beautiful mystery.
John