I spent my first 20 years waiting for my 21st Birthday, then the last 10 looking back at 21 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Here is a perspective look from both ends of the age divide. It came in the form of a letter from my Home Owners Association. I turned 21 in 1966. The recent letter made me think about the full circle that I have made since that memorable birthday. I am no longer looking toward being 21 but looking back at 21 from a 51 year perspective. I found it interesting but I am easily amused.

   I spent my first 20 years and 11 months waiting for my 21st Birthday. After I reached that magic number, I no longer had to carry a false ID. (See previous post here) I could legally go into any bar and buy a beer. Of course most of Dekalb County, Georgia was dry at the time so I had to venture to Atlanta to get that first legal beer. (I say legal, because there were a few places in Dekalb County where you could buy packaged Beer without an ID)

    After that magic date, I never much worried about birthdays or age again until the I retired at 59 year old. After that, I won't say everything went down hill, but it started to pick up speed for the next 6 years. Then the ID thing came back into the scenario. At 65 years old I had to prove to my doctors that Uncle Sam and all you young Tax Paying Turks had my back regarding medical coverage. I am not alone though. The Affordable Health Care act requires everyone to have Health Insurance regardless of age. I am not sure if it a right or a privilege, but we are all in the same boat now. Am I the only one who finds that somewhat ironic?

    Well in 2008, I moved into an Active Seniors Community. For those unaware of that term, it means that you are old (55+) but you still feel and act young. It also means that you can have a neighborhood specifically for those with a few gray hairs. (regardless if they are visible or not) For that reason, the government had to pass the HOPA law in 1995. (Housing for Older Persons Act)   That law was required to get around the age discrimination laws and allow older citizens to congregate without being of violation of the (Civil Rights Act of 1964. "Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;" The act was later amended to include age. (1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

    Why is this important you ask? Or do you? Well, Every two years I have to appear before a duly authorized representative of our neighborhood HOA and present my affidavit. I also must show them my ID to prove that I am old enough to live in this COMMUNITY. Below is the letter and affidavit that is required to stay on good terms with Uncle Sam and his enforcers.


Click here for larger picture
    Now that I am in full age compliance with the law, I am wondering what the heck happened to a couple of those Singles Only Apartments Complexes I use to live in. I have written about that before Here  and   here. A quick internet search shows that one of them is still around, but the pool has been filled in and the... well you get the point. I have been unable to find any legal basis for the "Singles only tag", but it was the 1970s and no one tended to get over excited about legal nuances then.

    Oak Creek was the second apartment. The first apartment was 'Mountain Trace.' That was where four recently discharged soldiers shared a three bedroom apartment. It was not really a Singles Only apartment, and that is one reason we were only there for one year. The other reason was we were all suffering from a lack of funds as a result of two divorces in the group. We each had his very own high wattage stereo set and speakers. We could move furniture around the room when we cranked up the volume, which caused our full blooded Cherokee Indian neighbor downstairs to offer a suggestion or two. (I have not posted that story here on BCN.......yet!) I forgot if we were asked to leave or left on our own volition. I drove by there two years ago and it was boarded up pending demolition. Google Earth street level today shows that the demolition is complete and site preparation is under way. Based on the picture of the site below, I would be willing to bet that they needed a Hazmat team come in to clean up the residual DNA ????? evidence.

   I might add that life in my current neighborhood is somewhat similar to the old apartments above. There is not a month goes by that someone in the neighborhood becomes "SINGLE AGAIN." You have to either laugh or cry, I choose to laugh. It reminds me of my high school buddy's saying which has often been repeated over the years, whenever we had a setback or "hey guys watch this moment." He would say:

"Well one thing you can say for sure,
We are moving right across the board!"

   While reviewing our resumes last week at lunch he once again repeated the phrase. It is still as true now as it was then.

Grandpa's Diaries - Aging