Old People

Old People

I always thought
Florida was for old people

I could see it through my young
Scornful eyes,
Signs for early bird specials and
Shuffleboard
Frumpy clothing on time worn bodies
Ambling down the beach
Blue haired women
Making cautious right hand turns
In big, slow cars

I laughed quietly
To hear over-loud geezers
Reminiscing at the bar
About when this land was great.

I smiled with patronizing indulgence
At paunchy men, arms wrapped lovingly
Around silver haired wives
Dancing to the music of their long ago youth,
Played by other paunchy guys
With comb-overs
Who still had that swing.

How did I
Walk into this place,
Sandals over my socks
To hear old guys
Playing Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Eagles songs
To sit reminiscing
About the glories of our flights to the moon
Back in the day
Over two dollar drafts and
Half-price peel-and-eat shrimp