SHADES OF SEPIA

This caught my eye first thing this morning.
Yesterday I discovered that there was much to be gained by BEING ELDERLY!
This state is something that I always considered was for OTHER PEOPLE, but yesterday for the first time in my life I found myself enjoying the benefits.
We were summoned to SARS (re Taxes) to verify our details. This entailed driving into the city, finding parking where there was none, queuing up to get a number in order to wait to see a consultant with a room full of other people also waiting to see a consultant. Then being told that the bank needed to stamp our account statements. Finding the bank, more queuing, back to SARS to repeat the whole performance again.
Now if you are considered ELDERLY, some kind soul at SARS will let you in ahead of the long queue and give you a number that gets you a consultant soonest. The first consultant patiently explains to us where the bank is located (next door) and when we start queuing for the second time a senior staff member fast forwards us through the whole process to a consultant with minimum period of waiting.
I had no idea that staff working in the Revenue service are so kind because it made a HUGE difference. It was one of those days where from the parking attendant to the banking officials, to the lady in the bank wanting to speak to the same consultant, EVERYONE was so helpful and considerate.
I still don't see myself as ELDERLY but won't let on.