I received my first AARP card in the mail the other day. It’s official — I’m old!
Well, not real old, but old enough to be a member.
I learned, however, that the initials AARP no longer stand for the “American Association of Retired Persons,” which is good because I’m not retired. AARP now is called exactly as you read the letters. Hmmm, that bugs me. Makes more sense to just give the organization a whole new name. Like OASIS: “Old And Still In Service.” After all, their motto is “To serve, not to be served.”
Although, I have to admit, the older I get, the more I like the idea of being served. Or maybe, I should say, the more I like things “easy.” In today’s world, we tend to complicate things way too much.
Take, for example, the way most calls are answered these days. I make a call, and within seconds I am talking to a robot that gives me a menu that includes at least nine options from which to choose — which then leads to more menus and more options. It almost seems as though they are penalizing me for calling them. That really bugs me.
In fact, that is No. 10 on my list of the 10 things that really bug me. Here are the other nine:
No. 9 — Opening crackers, candy bars and other food stuff that somehow are sealed so tight that you can’t open the darn thing. I’ve given up eating most food that comes in a wrapper.
No. 8 — Telephone books. Does anybody even use those things anymore? I can’t read any of the names because the font is so small.
No. 7 — Cars that pass me on a single-lane road when I am driving the speed limit. Yes, that bugs me.
No. 6 — People who don’t take responsibility for their actions. Unfortunately, I see more of this behavior in our younger generation than ever before.
No. 5 — Moles. Those little boogers are working overtime in my yard.
No. 4 — Telemarketers. I have called the “1-800 Do Not Call” registry, and they still call.
No. 3 — Drama. People with negative attitudes typically have high levels of drama in their life. One more reason to stay positive!
No. 2 — Disrespect. Especially to the elderly. We must do better as a society when interacting with our older generations.
And the No. 1 thing that really bugs me: Scammers. People who take advantage of others by using scare tactics and lies to gain favor and fortune. Please beware, folks, as these people are ruthless and will stoop to anything to cheat people (particularly older adults) out of their money and savings.
Always beware of calls you receive asking for information about bank accounts, credit cards and any sensitive or private information. I recently received a call from someone who said they were from the IRS and that I was going to be sued by them unless I paid them the money they said I owed.
First, the IRS is never going to call you regarding money that is owed. And your banks and creditors also will not ask for money and account numbers on calls they initiate. The standard approach is through the mail — and even then, be skeptical. If you’re not sure, ask someone that you trust to help you.
Stay informed, my friends.

DeLong is the executive director of the Suites at Station Exchange. Call him at 912-531-7867 or go to www.thesuitesatstationexchange.com.