Retirement Party

Most people assume I'm the family member in the military.

I don't really mind so much, it's a little flattering that people think my abs are chiseled enough and chest broad enough so that I could be active duty. It's also possible that it could be that my legs are sufficiently toned or that I have rugged good looks in the face. It might also be my biceps. Or my air of confidence.

But I've never been in the military. I got this masculine aura completely on my own. The Doctor is the active duty military in the family.

I can forgive people to leaping to the conclusion that I'm the active duty military family member. It hasn't been that long that women were active duty in real numbers. It hasn't been that long that women were in the military period. Plus, when you look at an adonis like me, it's easy to draw the wrong conclusion.

So, like I said, I don't mind that people think I'm military. What I do mind is when I sit down for a haircut and the barber throws the shroud over my shoulders and asks, "so you're retired military?"

Jeez, am I that old? Perhaps you haven't had a good look at my chest, biceps, abs, legs, etc. Shall I oil up and flex for you?

But then I told myself to clam down. One can retire after twenty years of service. If one entered at 18, one could retire at thirty-eight. I guess I'm not that far off from retirement age around here.

I guess I am that old. I blame the kids.

Time to retire, then. I think I'll spend my days playing with toys all day care, like my daughter. I am reliably told they have dinosaurs there.