Column for November 8, 2004
Benny and the Jets band recently performed in Boston, a town full of bridges, tunnels, toll booths and roundabouts. A roundabout is that crazy circle intersection you see in the old Italian movies. Most cities in American have stop lights, with corners and left had turn lanes, but the Oakland County Road Commission thinks roundabouts will be a great time and money saver here.
The first problem with a roundabout is no one knows what they are or how to use them. Unless you are an Italian race car driver they take some getting used to. Basically, they are intersections with a central traffic island, which must be driven around in a counterclockwise direction. You drive around the circle until you reach your exit point and slip out. I think they told me the rule of thumb is you also have to yield to everyone. The rumor is we will some roundabouts in Oakland County this year.
To an extent I think young people like them roundabouts and old people don't. Interestingly now I find out old people down like being called old. Even really old people hate to think of them self's as old. What are we to be called? Notice I snuck we in there, though no one thinks of me as being old. Seniors? Elders? Geezers? Mature? Really I think if you are old, your old.
In two years, about the time these roundabouts get popular, 78 million baby boomers born 1946 through 1964 will be hitting their 60s. Or like that hippy Paul McCarthy said "Will you still love me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64."
Some members of this Boomer Nation are surprised to hear the AARP, the nation's largest advocacy group is for those 50 and older. With your AARP card you can get seniors discount at the restaurant, car wash, movie theater, motel and lets not forget the ever popular 30 cent senior coffee at McDonald's!
Almost proving the point that people don't like being associated with mature, senior, elder, old retired person, the AARP has changed its name from the American Association of Retired Persons to the sand-alone acronym AARP.
To contact the young Ben E. or to see where the band is performing call (313) 730-1627 via e-mail benejets@aol.com and see the web sites bennyandthejets.com and reverendguitars.com.