Different meanings of senior

What does it mean to be a senior? What advantages are there to reach that status? Well, if you're in high school it means you're probably about to be 18 and about to enter adulthood.

That's no small thing. It means you'll be eligible to vote. And you won't need your parent's permission to join the military, either.

It also means if you get "busted," your picture might be in the paper. All in all, attaining that status puts you on the threshold of being a fully involved and responsible person in our society. Neat, huh?

If you're a senior in college, it probably means you're 21 and about to step up to another plateau, ready to enter the career world with a diploma to attest to your level of knowledge, sorta like the scarecrow after the Wizard of Oz had done his thing for Dorothy and her friends. And, being 21, you can also order a bottle of wine to go with your dinner with your senior friends at your favorite restaurant. You might get carded, but you can still have the wine, though it might be a good idea to learn the difference between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc and know that the wine server didn't give you the cork for you to taste. Though you may have some college loans to pay off, you'll be ready to earn real money and make your mark in the world. Great, huh?

If you attain seniorhood in the sense that some young people call you "sir" or "ma'am" and you talk about your grandchildren more than your children, you find yourself with advantages you didn't have before.

For instance, at 50 you can join AARP and get a 10 percent discount at most motels. You have to put on a few more years, though, to really enjoy all the perks that come with age.

Reaching 62, you can start drawing Social Security, cashing in on some of that 7 to 15 percent you've been paying into that federal system.

At 65 (higher for many under current rules) you can receive a greater sum of money from Social Security, if you wait till then to apply for it.

At 65 you can also cut down on your out of pocket medical expenses with Medicare. And, if you look your age, you might get a free coffee at McDonald's. Likewise, tickets for the movies are less when you're over 65.

So, what does all this have to do with Alpine County? Well, we have our share of seniors and, though Alpine County has no senior center, here on the east side of the county we do have the 50-Plus Club.

In 1997, at the urging of the county social services people, a few people, including several seniors, sat down and organized a program for seniors.

The gathering place for the activities moved around a bit and finally settled in at the learning center near the junction of Highway 88 and Foothill Road.

Under the leadership of Jim and Delores Clark, the 50-Plus Club has evolved into a monthly potluck luncheon with a wide variety of programs to benefit the seniors who attend.

The Alpine County Unified School District allows use of the big room at the center at no charge.

The club gets no money from the county, but the social services department is supportive in many ways. Funds to help cover the expenses are earned by the seniors as a result of helping the chamber of commerce with the annual bicycle event called the Death Ride.

The programs at the monthly luncheons include information from a number of county officials, such as the sheriff and the county health officer and his staff, covering such topics as emergency services, availability of flu shots, and wellness programs.

There have been a variety of programs of a different sort, too.

For example, Doc Harvey, the county health officer, presented a hugely entertaining travelogue of his adventures as tour doctor on a trip around the world to several exotic places.

Recently was a celebration of the 60th wedding anniversary of Stuart and Eileen Merrill, long time residents of Alpine County.

Now here's a tip. You don't have be 50 or over to attend these affairs.

You can be a senior for the day.

The food is good and there's plenty of it. And you'll likely get better acquainted with several of Alpine County's officials.

Call Jim or Dolores Clark at (530) 694-2473 for information about the next gathering.