I am a senior. I'm not sure what that means, but I think it means I'm old. I am definitely over 50, in fact, I'm over 60, and Mr. Bruce is older than that. Yesterday he had a funny thing happened to him at our favorite grocery store. Harter House has senior discount day each Tuesday. If you go there between the hours of 10 and 3, the store is packed with little old people getting their groceries. Yesterday Bruce was checking out and the clerk asked him if he was a senior. He was both amused and puzzled; he said it's been a long time since anyone had asked me that. I asked him how old was she, thinking it was a college age girl. His answered. “She is at least my age.”
Everyone likes discounts, especially senior citizens who simply love all discounts, coupons, and early bird specials. Harter House gives a 5% discount on Tuesdays to people over 60. As someone once said, that is almost equal to the sales tax. (This store also gives 5% discounts to Cox Health employees).
While jokes are being made about seniors and early bird specials, thousands of us are at local restaurants between the hours of 4 and 6 to get our senior discount. We like IHOP and take advantage of their “buy one, get one free” during their senior hours. I know a couple of ladies who have a different place to eat each night of the week, always during that senior discount special.
Kohl’s is another place that gives nice discounts to seniors. I'm not sure, but I think that it is once a month on a Wednesday. On those days, you will find almost everybody in the store have gray hair. Moreover, we all spend quite a bit of money on those days.
Of course, we always ask for the senior discount every place we go, especially when we travel and stay in hotels. Bruce says that very few people actually ask to see his AARP card. My reply, “It is because you look old and most clerks and salespeople are in their 20s.” We also look for online coupons and free shipping when we buy online. I personally buy everything possible online.
Another point I'd like to make is that there is a difference in baby boomers and senior citizens. I belong to the Elder Generation, people that were born between the years 1930 and 1945. (This reminds me, a big thank-you for all who read this blog) Our buying habits are different; we need and use different goods and services. I don’t have the data, but I suspect we seniors spend a ton of money. (And it’s not only on medical stuff.)
Yes, we seniors are a “target market”; please include a nice discount coupon for us on your website or blog. MissDazey and friends thank-you in advance.
I have written before about Mr. Bruce working at Campbell 66 express. For over 30 years, Campbell 66 Express was a large freight company headquartered in here in Springfield, MO. Bruce worked there for over 30 years before they closed in the late 80s. Bruce has one page about the history of Campbell 66 on a website.
Bruce has a room full of Campbell 66 collectibles and he has donated many items to the Springfield Library Station. Many of these items were used for promotions, marketing such, Bruce designed and ordered these items as part of his position as VP of marketing and sales. The genuine old time items are getting harder to find, although some do show up every so often on eBay. We found this bumper sticker this past week.
This week he was gifted a big box full of Campbell 66 Express items from another former employee, Nancy P. Nancy worked in the Campbell 66 office in the Dallas area and Bruce would visit there on a regular bases. (I smile when I read one of her emails and she still calls him Mr. Crim.) Nancy had saved these things all these years, and Bruce was happy she did. He was like a little kid at Christmas going through the box, pulling out treasures and sharing stories about them. Remembering why this item was made, who ordered it, and other insider stories about Campbell 66 Express.
One of the very neat things she sent was a woman’s golfing cap. Bruce said that they often sponsored golfing tournaments or outings for their customers. He didn’t know if Nancy played golf or was a volunteer working a tournament. (We are without a camera right now; I’ll post pictures as soon as we get a new camera) The red seat cushion really excited Bruce, he had forgotten all about them.
Bless her heart, Nancy sent a couple of things that had to have been in the Dallas office only. One is the cutest little watering can, painted with Snortin’ Norton, the running camel that was part of the company’s logo. The other part is “Humpin’ to Please”. I told Bruce I bet someone in the office painted that and gave to the “girls” in the office to use as a flower vase.
I think the story about how Nancy found Bruce is interesting—she googled him. I have forgotten the exact facts, but I think she did a search and one of my blog stories came up. But the most important part it this very nice lady took the time to locate Bruce and give him this very important collectables. Thank-you Nancy, both for the things and especially for reconnecting with Bruce.
This cute picture reminded me of the last time I drove the car. It has been over a year ago, I think Bruce is over the trauma. He had to have some dental surgery and of course, he was given knock-out stuff and pain medicine. He was told not to drive until the next day, so either we ask someone to drive him or I had to drive. We don’t like bothering others; also this is an issue that we must address in a practical matter.
Bruce drives a Buick Lucerne, which is big heavy car. The car’s nickname is Tank, which should give you some idea of how it looks and drives. My first challenge was adjusting the seat and windows, I am a 5’1” weakling, and he is a 5’10” guy. We went early and Bruce helped get my big driving cushion into place, raise the driver’s seat to the highest level, and gave me all kinds of instructions. Only thing was, he had pulled straight into a parking slot, which meant I’d have to back-out. Neither of us thought of that.
I am happy to report the surgery went fine; 3 hours later is was D-hour. (Driving time) The nurse said to bring the car to the patient loading door. OK, but first I had to figure out how to get the key into the ignition and start the car with my bad hand. That done, I realized I had to back out of the parking spot, now where is the reverse? (Thankfully we have an automatic everything on the car) OK, got to door, Bruce got in, dopier than a Saturday night drunk.
We had carefully planned our route home taking back streets most of the way, still the first part was on busy main streets. For some reasons the other drivers didn’t like being behind an old woman driving 20mph in a 35mph. Nor did they understand I put my brakes on too soon when I saw a stop light ahead of me. By the time we were on the safer side streets I had gone into a panic attack and was moving along at a 15mph. Bruce had enough wits about him to tell me to press the gas pedal.
Of course we finally got home and parked Tank into the garage. I swear I heard the car give a big sigh of relief…I know I did.
This was originally posted on MissDazey Biz
I write about my husband Bruce in my blogs and on Twitter often. He is the center of my universe. I have been trying to think of a new nickname for him. Jeanne Robertson calls her husband Left Brain or LB, and I think Bruce probably fits that nickname too. If asked he says, “I’m just the driver.”
For the next two years, I can call him Pres. Elect, then for 2 years, I’ll call him Mr. Pres. Bruce accepted those positions with the CoxHealth Auxiliary, making a 4 year commitment at the age of 75. He is very dedicated to the work that the volunteers do at the hospital. CoxHealth has over 800 volunteers; it’s a small business in many aspects.
A bit of background on Bruce: He worked his way through Drury College getting a degree in economics, served in the Army, and then went to work at Campbell 66 Express in their management-training program. He held different management positions, the last being VP of Marketing and Sales. The company closed in the late 80’s; he had worked there 30 years. Next he and two other men started a logistic company. After taking his retirement from there, he drove a school bus for 10 years. (He was also his late wife’s caretaker until her death) He took his third retirement at age 70.
Retirement and being home all the time lasted exactly 3 months. Bruce doesn’t have hobbies, didn’t know what to do with his time at all. A friend suggested that he volunteer at Cox, but at first, he wasn’t sure about that. He’d seen enough hospitals. He was assigned to work in the gift shop storage area where they receive and ticket the new merchandise. (It is called the tunnel.) That was 5 years ago, now he works many long hours doing several different things from decorating for Christmas to being treasurer.
I believe that Bruce will go a great job as a leader. He will bring his numerous business skills and many years of experience into every situation. I asked him if he was still going to work in the tunnel, I always worry about his bad back lifting boxes, etc. His reply, “of course, it’s hard to get volunteers to do that.”
Note: While he’s spending more time volunteering, I have more time on Twitter. Maybe I’ll open an online store or write a Dear Daisy column.
A few weeks ago, we were sent a link to a YouTube for a Jeanne Robertson video. I had never heard of Jeanie Robertson but the minute we started watching, we were laughing. In fact, we laughed until we cried. Then we watched another on YouTube and laughed some more. Of course, I went to the website and found some more videos to watch.
I ordered the DVD called “Just for Fun”. We have watched it 3 times, all the way through and parts of it several times more. This is a 100-minute video, but that time goes so fast that you do not realize you have watched for almost 2 hours. A couple of times we had to turn the player off and catch our breath because we were laughing so hard. When I came back upstairs to the computer, I watched one of the videos on YouTube again.
Jeanne has made 6 DVDs, and of course, I decided I needed all of them. I sent an e-mail to Toni, who is the executive professional that is in charge of Jeanne’s office and explained that I wanted to buy the complete set, minus the “Just for Fun” DVD. Thanks Toni for understanding what I was talking about and getting my order in the mail. I am looking forward to watching all 5 DVDs and laughing and crying at the same time.
I need to be serious for a very short minute to explain why these comical videos are meaning so much to me. Because of health issues, I have pain, disability, and helplessness. The very first time I watched a Jeanne Robertson video I felt as I have a new friend. It delighted me to find out that she is a year younger than I am. It thrilled me that people in my age group are funny, intelligent, and happy. Honestly, the old saying that “laughter is the best medicine” is so true. Just watching these videos and laughing aloud has improved my outlook 200%. I will forever be grateful for discovering Jeanne. I fussed because I had never heard of her until now. Perhaps though, this is the very time in my life I need these funny videos the most. After all, it’s never too late to laugh.
Note: This is part one in a series of stories on laughing along with Jeanne.
