Yep, I started getting my invitations just days before my (gulp) 50th birthday in June. And every few weeks since a new 'temporary membership card' arrived in the mail. Being more mature now, it wasn't long till I started comparing my AAA benefits with AARP. Did you know that AARP has a better hotel discount than AAA??? Go figure!
So, a couple of weeks ago, I paid my $16 dues and am now a card carrying member of AARP. Why not, right?
In addition to discounts of all sorts membership benefits include email newsletters with helpful tips and information for a better life for us older folks. But I'm not sure what to think of the latest newsletter. It's this headline that has me disturbed, quite frankly: "13 Little Luxuries We Deserve Now That We're Over 50" It's enough to make me wonder if I should cancel my membership right away!!
I don't know about you, but I didn't know that I deserve much of anything just for turning a year older. I fear this is another example of what's wrong with our culture. The article promises, "Big satisfaction for small expenditure, and small guilt!" hmmm, that sure sounds nice, but just because I am over 50?!?!
Should I really care about real maple syrup (at $100/gallon) and weekly manicures, numbers 4 and 7 on the AAPR list, as luxuries I now deserve when I see broken and hurting people each and every day? I think that if I have enough money to pay for real Hawaiian ginger or a six-pack of massage certificates then I should be tithing to my church at the very least and investing my time and talent in mentoring and volunteering too!
I'm not sure if I'll keep the AARP card - I don't really like the warped perspective its giving me about ageing in the 21st Century. Seems pretty immature and shallow to me, but what do I know?
Peace,
Deborah
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