It's a well-known fact that most people look their age. Certain accepted characteristics typically indicate the amount of time one has spent on this planet. It doesn't require much effort to look one's age. It usually happens naturally.

However, some people spend a significant amount of time, money and energy trying to look anything but their age. Age cover-ups are so widespread, they've caused an entire industry to prosper. One wonders what would happen if people suddenly lost interest in cosmetics. Would thousands of lab animals find themselves abandoned and left to search for a new purpose in life?

Of course, some people look younger than they really are. They usually ascribe this to being blessed with good genes, which isn't the case at all. Their genes aren't good. They're simply lazy. Instead of going through the mundane routine of aging daily, their genes procrastinate until the process can't be put off any longer. One day they look like they're defying time and the next day the poor souls look like they've been hit by a truck hauling a ton of bricks (or a ton of hay). It's age evasion on a genetic level.

Unlike the genes of the abnormally youthful looking crowd, mine aren't slackers. To the contrary, they're overachievers who want to get as much aging done as quickly as possible. So far, they've succeeded in making me look at least ten years older than I actually am. Do I wish my genes were more indolent? Sure. I once suggested they take weekends and every other Monday off, but they refused on the grounds of some obscure union bylaw.

When people incorrectly guess my age, I don't get offended. I have no illusions about how old I look, but the experience is still uncomfortable. I would prefer it if people didn't look at me so closely. No good has ever come from doing so. For example, take last night...