It's official!

It's hardly a unique experience, and others have written about it. But it's the first time it's happened to me, so I'm gonna write about it.

When I cleared out my mailbox tonight, I saw the envelope and knew immediately what it was and what it meant.

The letter was from the AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.

It was an invitation to join.

I'm officially old.

This does not traumatize me: the evidence has been mounting for some time. But I turned fifty a few weeks ago, and so my name popped up on some AARP computer, and the letter got sent.

I may well join. I think it's a good organization, and the magazine is pretty good.

Get off my lawn.