Oh boy, just when I thought I had conquered aging gracefully I’m flung back into awkwardness by the simple act of purchasing travel medical insurance!

Girl behind the desk, “Are you perhaps over 60?” Even the question sounds formidable. Me, “Oh yes, crossed that bridge awhile back.” Girl behind desk shifts her position and her black blazer before responding, “Well, your age puts you in a different category so costs will be slightly higher. Every year over sixty makes a difference.” She says this almost apologetically.

“Since when is sixty old!”, I want to shout at her. “I have lots of great years left and I don’t wish to be put in any kind of category”. I stifle the impulse to reach across the desk and whisper in her ear, “You’ll be my age one day too sweetcakes – just wait!”

Next question – “Have you any ailments that required you to visit a Dr. in the last 6 months? Are you on any prescription medications?” I sit up straighter and prouder and confidently state that in fact, I take no prescription drugs and haven’t been to the Dr. in the last six months – touche! Now it has become a sport, this banter between us. At the moment we are tied.

So we volley questions and answers back and forth and I am slowly regaining my composure and feeling less diminutive when she lands the big one. “How long are you going for?” “Three months”, I gleefully reply at which point a shadow crosses her face and I brace myself for what might come out of her mouth. I desperately want to casually slip in that it’s most unfortunate she isn’t retired – it’s such a shame she has to travel during high season for short periods of time, but I resist the urge not wishing to mirror her smugness.

It gets worse: “The most reasonable rates are for 30 days and once you go over that the cost increases significantly and 90 days is the maximum coverage you can get under our plan.”  Ok – so now, not only am I being punished for being over sixty but I’m taking a hit for being able to enjoy my retirement and travel for extended periods.  What the hell!  At this point I realize there is no winning – the stakes were set before I even entered the ring!

When she reveals the total amount I am astounded and think to myself, God forbid, excuse me a minute while I go take out a mortgage to pay for this – but since I know better than to shoot the messenger I keep my mouth shut, politely gather my wits along with the information she has given me and gracefully cross the floor to the door. Sometimes facing reality is a lesson in acceptance – I realize there is still work to be done here.