"If You Were Born Between 1923 and 1968..."

Thursday, January 24, 2008
The other night I was watching television with my Smart Man, and a commercial came on. On the rare occasions when we actually watch "live" TV as opposed to our DVR, I usually tune out the commercials.

In this case, however, something caught my attention. It was one of those life insurance commercials where you "can't be turned down for ANY REASON." What caught my attention was the opening gambit - "If you were born between 1923 and 1968..."

I was born between 1923 and 1968, and it inspired the following conversation between me and my Smart Man:

Janiece: [aghast] Did you hear that??

Smart Man: What?

J: [horrified] What the hell do they mean, "If you were born between 1923 and 1968?"

SM: [starts to chuckle]

J: [appalled] I am way too young to be eligible for "you can't be turned down" life insurance!

SM: [starts to shake with suppressed laughter]

J: That is just so wrong. On so many levels.

SM: [continues to shake with laughter, possibly inducing a hernia]

J: You're going to hurt yourself if you don't settle down. And it would serve you right.

SM: [shakes head, still shaking with laughter, burying his face in his hand]

J: You think this is funny, but it's not.

SM: Oh, it is. It really is. You're just so...outraged.

It may help to know that my Smart Man was not born between 1923 and 1968.

Stupid commercial. Stupid life insurance.

16 comments:

Jim Wright said...

It may help to know that my Smart Man was not born between 1923 and 1968.

So, you're either a golddigger or a cradle robber, that's what you're saying here? Shocked, shocked I am.

Janiece said...

Jim, the correct term is Cougar.

And I expect you'll get over it. Hehe.

John the Scientist said...

Crap, my wife was born in 67, me in 69. I've got to let her know about this!

Janiece said...

John, she may not thank you. Just sayin'.

Random Michelle K said...

Well, I'll be there in two years.

Luckily my husband is smart enough not to make age jokes. Probably because despite being younger, he has more gray hair--and it's more noticeable as well.

Nathan said...

I was going to ask you why you were married to such an old man, but Jim beat me to it...sorta.

Janiece said...

My Smart Man and I tease each other constantly, some of it is age-related, some not. One of the reasons I like him is he makes me laugh.

It's all good, as long as he still thinks I'm Hot.

Tom said...

Cougars are hot by definition!

The proprietor of Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men is also hot by definition!

So, if the TV guy had said "if you are between the ages of 40 and 85..." would that have had as much of an impact? To me, my birth year has less of an impact than my age.

Janiece said...

Tom, it was more the idea that I was eligible for the "you can't be turned down" life insurance.

My mother is eligible for that - not me.

So I don't think the presentation would of mattered.

Jeri said...

Too funny, I was born in '64 so I can't be turned down, either.

But, my 73 yo mom is amazing, she swims competitively, runs agility competitions w/ her Aussie, is a fabulous carpenter and craftsperson, and manages her mini-farm. So, if I'm going to be categorized with what I thought was my mom's generation - I'm in darn good company.

Becca said...

Dang it all to hades, but when is being born in the 60s now considered old???? Mitch, my very own smart man was born in 61 and I was born in 64, and we sure are not old!

And my smart man cannot forget my birthday, because his is only 4 days after mine! Smart women rule!

Becca

Janiece said...

Becca, being Smart is a subset of being Hot. So yes, Hot, Smart Women do indeed rule.

And so do our Smart Men. When they're not giving themselves a hernia, I mean.

Tom said...

I've reached the speed limit, and AARP keeps sending me stuff! If I'm in the "you can't be turned down" group, somebody better spread the word. I'm turned down more than the sheets on a hotel bed!

Old is a state of mind, and, if you don't mind, I'm not visiting that state. But I think my warranty ran out, cause now parts of me are starting to fall apart.

They say you're as yound as you feel, but I haven't felt anyone young in a long time. Maybe I am old.

But hey, I started my life over at age 39, so really I'm just 16. Toss me a party, softly.

Tom said...

I'm so old I can't even spell "young" anymore!

Janiece said...

Tom, I understand. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable AARP mailings, either.

We can all be "old" together!

Anne C. said...

I've heard "you're only as old as who you feel," so those of you married to younger mates, knock a few years off your age! ;)