"As they say, when the age is in, the wit is out." (Much Ado)

.....The ritual of aging requires that you purchase a "walker" like everyone else in South Florida; the good thing about it is that you remember all the times you bought a new car, and how you eventually were able to deal with the salesman who was surely out to get you to pay his estimate so that he would make more money on the deal and you would have to pay more for the car. So, the first step in purchasing a walker is to try to get one that would be different from all the other walkers and one which would impress the neighbors as you walked home with it like a klutz.

.....You find a medical supply dealership, walk in and then the salesman asks, "Can I do anything for you?" A dumb question; what did he expect to do except to sell you a walker or some other medical equipment, else why would he be working there? You answer anyway, "Yes, I'd like to see your walkers, and I'd like something different."

"What color would you prefer?"

"What colors do you have?" You ask.

"We have only three colors, battleship grey, fire-engine red, and puke green," he replies.

"I think I'd prefer the red. I'd like one with chrome hub caps if possible. What kind of mileage can I get?"

"Depends. If you walk slowly, you'll get very good mileage with any color."

"What's the bottom line price?"

"I see you are a vet and a senior citizen so I'm going to give you a price you can't refuse. I'll even throw in a box of M & M's"

"Thanks, so what's the price?"

"$248 and Medicare picks up $100 of it. You can't do better than that, anywhere."

"Well, I can try unless you come down about a hundred bucks"

"Wait here. Let me talk to my boss."

So, the guy comes back after about twenty suspenseful minutes and with watery eyes gives you the walker for $148 and claims that Medicare will pick up $131 of it, and so this Fire red and black walker, different from all the other walkers in town, costs you $18. Life is good.