A senior moment

"Hey, old-timer, are you sure that's not a phony ID? You don't look a day over 35 in that photo." Liquor stores finally give up on trying to figure out who is trying to pull a fast one and who is not:

It's difficult for 52-year-old Edgar Logan to recall the last time he was asked to show his ID when buying alcohol.

Starting this month, Logan will have to remember to keep his card handy if he plans to purchase alcohol from local convenience stores.

"I guess the gray in my beard and hair ain't good enough anymore. That was the only good part of having it," he said.

The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association announced Tuesday that convenience stores throughout Indiana will verify ages for all alcohol purchasers regardless of appearance.

Association President Kelly McClure said the decision is an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.

They've been doing that here already for the past few months, at least at the two Cap n' Corks in my drive path that I shop at most frequently. It has been by turns annoying and amusing, depending on how hard I had to look for my drivers license. But it's also kind of a refreshing counterpoise to the humiliation usually inflicted on me. My beard went gray early, so since before my 40th birthday, I've been forced to listen to snot-nosed waitresses asking me if I wanted the senior discout.

And no, Mr. or Ms. Liquor Store Clerk, I do not enjoy the smirk and the wink that say, "We both know this is crap, but we have to do it anyway, right?" Let me pretend a little.