Before I retired I warned my earlier deserters as they went out, ok danced out the door, to never grab the 7 a.m. or noon Doctors' appointments. We working people need those times because really who wants to waste vacation time on such mundane tasks. Well the surprise was all mine when I went to my early morning physical therapy appointments (scheduled by them, not me). 3/4 of the people waiting in the room were the gray hairs! Ok further investigation was warranted.
Apparently, as we age the ability to lounge around in bed until all hours goes away. Partially because we are usually not partying or sharing after work cocktails with friends and hitting the sack at a reasonable hour. Secondly, through my own experience, I find we don't sleep so well as various aches and pains raise their nasty little heads resulting in our being nudged out earlier and earlier. Or our digestive and urinary systems send urgent signals that "we are not going to make it all night kiddo". Big surprise. Then the ability to quickly fall back asleep are sabotaged by my second point-pain.
Ok so the point that the mature crowd is up and running before 7 is explainable. But then why does it take them until 9 or later to hit the restaurants for breakfast? I am required to fast before any blood work so by 7 or 8 in the am I'm hungry. Typical day for some retirees (discovered through interviews) may consist of: 6 to 8:30 or 9 just getting up and having some coffee; breakfast from 9 to 10:30 or so; putz around until 1 or so then lunch; which brings one up to the first early bird specials and happy hours on tap in various establishments; a little TV and bed. The days just fly by! I can always get to whatever chore tomorrow. Some complaints about never getting a holiday arise with no sympathy expected from the working crowd.
There is a bonus to be enjoyed however. By strolling into the lab this week at 8:30 or so I found the waiting room empty and a blood dude actually trolling for customers. "Can I empty some red cells for you Madam?" In and out, literally, in minutes five vials later which made me feel like I had donated enough blood for a Red Cross blood drive single-handedly. But of course that made us late for the 9 am rush at the local breakfast spot where the tables were filled with our retired brothers and sisters. And they eat very slowlllllyyyy. No matter we have all day.
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