Huckleberries: Welcome to the senior years

Mebbe I shouldn’t write this Huckleberry because I turn 57 today and am approaching my Social Security years. But Sandi Brodwater got a rude introduction to her Seasoned Citizenship the other day. It started with a letter from the Social Security Administration saying that she could sign up for benefits three months before her 62nd birthday by going online or to the agency’s local office. Sandi’s birthday is in January. She got the notice this month. Late. Sandi opted for Door No. 2 and headed for the hard-to-find Coeur d’Alene office, armed with banking info, an original birth certificate and her Social Security card. She took a number – 12 – and waited. And waited. One by one, those before her were processed by a lone woman at the window while other SS employees gabbed on the phone or busied themselves at their desks behind her. After 45 minutes, Sandi heard “No. 11” called – and made the mistake of pointing out that “No. 11” had grown weary of waiting and left. For that public service announcement, she was reprimanded by the harried Counter Lady: “Just let me do my job. I got to call this number.” When Sandi’s turn came, she was asked to hand over her documentation and then told to wait until Nov. 28 for a telephone appointment. No how-ya-doin’. No sorry to keep you waiting. She knew it was time to go when Counter Lady shouted: “No. 13!” Later, Sandi received a letter from Social Security asking her to mail in her original birth certificate – the one she took to the office. She’s reluctant to do so. Can you blame her?