There is a line in the T.V. series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner that struck a chord with me. “You do something you enjoy your entire life, and it takes only one man to f*ck it up.” This pretty much sums up my entire career, that I often reflect upon in retirement. It soured the entire experience, knowing that I had been so successful until one egomaniac changed everything. He tried to impose his management style on me that I couldn’t wear comfortably. I know several others that are going through this struggle now, as “old age extermination” will eventually lead my friends to join me in retirement. It’s a process that starts with a younger manager, anxious to make a name for himself or herself and to modernize what they’ve determined to be “old school.” It begins to affect those of us over fifty, but particularly those in their sixties. Whether you’re a cowboy or an executive, it only takes one person with a new agenda to tear down what it’s taken you years to build. 

“Age Extermination” is a rather dark subject, but perhaps a necessary evil in the workplace. There’s always one “old guy or gal” in the way of a promotion. Too often, they try to hang on to their job in fear of what they’ll do in retirement. It’s a genuine concern especially considering that studies have shown too many people who have died within five years of retirement. Personally, I’m going on three and feel pretty good. In fact, I’m truly sorry for those that can’t or won’t retire and spend their twilight years being climbed over on the corporate ladder. As government officials continue to raise the age to claim Social Security, I’m troubled that we’ll see more and more of this discriminatory practice. Please, if you have the means to retire, get out of the way. If not, you’ll go through the demeaning process of being forced out by someone the same age as your oldest grandchild.

It’s difficult to simply simply fire a sixty-year-plus employee, so instead they make you miserable, hoping that you quit. If you quit too soon, you’ll have trouble finding another job because of your age. Also, you won’t have health insurance when you need it most. It’s that Catch-22 that you read about in high school, as members of the aging workforce painfully tolerate those final miserable years. The sad thing is that it’s the job you always dreamed of and studied years to get, but they’ve now made you hate it. You no longer look forward to going to work, but you can’t afford to stay home. This is the very definition of “Age Extermination,” that final stage of work before retirement. It’s this that eventually kills you – not retirement. 

Age Extermination 

When I was young,
I dreamt of success.
What I’d do for a living?
Was my best guess.

I went to school,
Made the grade.
Found my passion,
Learned its trade.

Found a job,
Won awards.
Earned respect,
Served on boards.

Climbed the ladder,
Led the way.
But someone younger,
Took it all away.

Their qualifications,
Weren’t that clear.
But they took the job,
That I held dear.

What had been right,
For all this time.
I suddenly heard,
The “Old School” line.

It wasn’t long after,
I was out the door.
Without many options,
To even explore.

Too young to retire,
But too old to work.
Thanks to the opinion,
Of one frickin’ jerk.

My fall from grace,
A clear indication.
I’m another victim,
Of age extermination.

Copyright 2019 johnstonwrites.com