My wife and I frequent a farmers market Sundays in Dupont Circle, and often buy from a local pickler named Number 1 Sons.
The pickler's stand is run by 20-somethings who inevitably ignore me until I go all geezer on them and crabbily insist on making my purchase.
I'm not alone in taking it personally.
According to a survey by AARP of 61- to 69-year old Americans, 21% say they feel invisible around Millennials, and 10% say they receive slower service at stores and restaurants.
Fifty years ago, Sir Paul McCartney's lyrics to "When I'm 64" seemed so sweet.
Every Boomer would relish aging, he implied, just as long as "you still need me."
Things aren't quite working out that way.
But there's more than sour grapes in my tale.
There's a business lesson.
The late novelist Pat Conroy once told C-SPAN, "Every industry is going to be affected by the aging population. This creates tremendous opportunities and tremendous challenges."
He was right—especially about the opportunities.
The GI Generation didn't put up with crap service. Why would Boomers? We ended an unjust war; elevated women, blacks and gays; invented heavy metal and punk rock; and created the Internet.
Hey, Sonny: If you want to disrupt, try disrupting discourtesy.
Hey, Sonny: If you want to disrupt, try disrupting discourtesy.
