I didn’t watch this year’s Super Bowl but heard that it was an unusually exciting one. I also missed my favorite part—watching the ads that debut during the big game. Instead, I found them on the Internet. A few of them were good, but one really grabbed my attention. It was called “This is Getting Old” and portrayed working as an older adult to be a problem.
Using the music of Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song” (commonly known for the “Day-O” refrain), the E-Trade commercial changed one lyric from “Daylight come and me wanna go home” to “I’m 85 and I wanna go home.”
The ad itself is humorous, but feeds on the fear of facing retirement without financial security. It shows old folks trying to wield a fire hose, working as a life guard, and struggling with other jobs. The thing is, there’s a completely different side to working later in life.
After nearly 30 years of teaching college classes, my schedule was getting lighter due to low enrollment. I had retirement income, but wasn’t ready to stop working. The times I had fewer classes, I found myself watching too much TV and feeling depressed. I needed something to keep my mind stimulated. Something to challenge me. I needed to make use of the knowledge and skills I’ve accumulated.
Although I’d been volunteering and giving presentations, I wanted to do more. So, at the age of 65, I threw my hat into the ring. At first, the applications went unanswered. I started wondering about age discrimination.
Then, as fate would have it, after asking someone to provide a reference for me on one particular job, she responded with a better offer. Turns out, the agency I’d been volunteering with for the past few years had a position open that suit me to a tee. They let me set my work schedule, gave me new technologies and material to learn, and put me in with supportive people who make me feel right at home.
It’s a perfect fit. The job allows me to use my skills and talents while stretching me in new ways. I’m excited to get up each morning, looking forward to doing work I am passionate about.
I feel blessed to have started a new career that’s flexible, meaningful, and fun. So, as for the E-Trade ad, I would change that lyric to “Day-O! I’m 65 and I’m glad to leave home.”