THE ART OF A SENSE OF WONDER

Written for GBE2.

Everyone wonders about something at some time; usually it is mundane things like "Do they really do anything in Congress?", "Why do you hit 'start' to close down your computer?", "Why do you have new updates immediately after updating about any electrical device?, etc. Of course my favorite for the last couple of months is wondering "How a newborn can be so peacefully asleep until you start to walk to bed and then is as awake as a Starbucks addict?"

A sense of wonder is a different thing altogether and all children have it. This is a sense of being so surprised and excited by the world around you that that the joy and wonder show on your face. My 4 year old grandson showed a small example of this as we walked into his garage and were hit by a strong wind, he stated, "Wind, I didn't expect that!" He nailed it on the head, the sense of the unexpected and marveling at the surprises of the day.

As a really older person, I have come to hope that I can keep artfully holding on to my sense of wonder. As you travel through life and have many experiences, a large majority of them repeated, I believe you become blasé and too sophisticated for "wonder". I try daily to guard against that and try to see things with "new eyes". I was lucky to be there before my granddaughter was born in November and have the wonder at her looking up at me a day after she had been travelling solely with mom. The wonder of birth is easy, though, most people are touched by that.

I like to sharpen my sense of wonder on the HUGE snow globe on someone's lawn or the pink flamingoes at city hall, a stranger being unexpectedly courteous, a friend saying something you never realized about them in all the years you've known each other and my husband being truly pleased with a gift I gave him. As we boomers get older we need to try as hard as possible to hold onto our sense of wonder or we will lose a major component in the enjoyment of life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS READERS.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: WHAT TRIP?

Written for GBE2

This week Beth has challenged us to consider what we were doing or where we were at this time last year.  She, of course, did this directly after we had all (at least those of us old enough) had been thinking of where we were 10 years ago on September 11.  For a moment, I couldn't even remember what I was doing a year ago, but WOW, I forgot we were planning for the trip of our lives.

We had both retired (or in my case perhaps asked to leave) and my husband inherited a little money.  We decided to take a trip to the one place that he's wanted to visit for years, Ireland.  My husband is pretty well traveled due to his military service and has gone to many places in Europe and Asia.  I however was never out of the United States until we visit my son in Germany a couple of years ago.  Some of the places my spouse has traveled I don't regret not seeing such as Vietnam in 1968, on the other hand I would have been happy to see Bermuda, Florence or Sicily. 

Neither of us had been to England, Scotland or Ireland before and so we decided to take a tour that would take us through all these in 11 days.  I know this tour is reminiscent of the title of a B movie, "3 countries in 11 days".  It was a little rushed, but at least we didn't personally have to drive on the wrong side of the road.  We saw little of London to our regret, but we saw York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Waterford, and Wales.  It was fun and surprisingly we liked Scotland best of all.

One of the best advantages of the tour was meeting people from all over the world in our little troupe of passengers.  I think Canada was the country most represented then Australia, U.S., Japan and a couple from South Africa.  We learned a great deal talking to all these folks about their homes and lifestyles.  One thing we learned is that Australians love to travel and most of those on our trip had just come from another tour in Europe. 

I think that the saddest thing about this post is that when Beth posted the topic my first thought was that I had been doing nothing last year.  How did I forget such a fantastic trip? Where was my mind (not a question I usually want the answer to)? We were eating Haggis (hubby not me), listening to bagpipes, circling Stonehenge, touring castles and seeing the world (or at least the UK).  Thanks Beth for jogging my 62-year-old memory.  

A GREAT LIST OF DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS AND SOME JUST OVER 50

Below is a list that has been roaming the web of senior discounts around the country. I thought I would post it here for my readers. Remember ask everywhere, not everyone advertises them.

RESTAURANTS
A
Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
B
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
C
Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
D
Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
E
Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
F
Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
G
Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
H
Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
I
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
J
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
K
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
L
Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
M
McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
S
Shoney’s: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
T
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
V
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
W
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy’s: 10% off (55+) Free senior drink
White Castle: 10% off (62+)

RETAIL

Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)
Kohl’s: 15% off (60+)
Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

GROCERY

Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
RogersMarketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

TRAVEL

Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members
(50+)
CambriaSuites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club
& special fares for select destinations
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+) 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle BeachResort: 10% off (55+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
U.S.Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

ENTERTAINMENT
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
BuschGardens Tampa : $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S.National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services
including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off
Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Great Clips: $3 off haircuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)