It's last Friday morning and I'm on my way to Baxter State Park with ten others for a weekend ski trip into the bunkhouse at Trout Brook Farm. It's a long haul up I-95, so we decide to take a quick break at Burger King in Orono before making the last stretch of highway to the park.

I'm standing there in line, a bit road-weary, when I have a personal Twilight Zone-like experience. The menu board reads 89 cents for a small cup of Joe. I don't think another thing of it. I step up, announce my order to the pleasant woman behind the counter, step back and wait. All systems normal, right?

She punches the keys of the register and walks off to pour my coffee. The register rings up 27 cents. Hmmm. That's odd. Coffee is 89 cents. What's the deal, I half-think in the under-caffeinated, groggy little world of my mind.

Returning with my coffee, she smiles and says, "27 cents" please. Confused but coming around a bit, I inquire quietly, "Uh, but isn't the coffee 89 cents?"

She smiles again, leans forward and says, "Oh, that's because I gave you the senior discount."

(do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do) {theme from Twilight Zone playing here...}

Stunned to silence (which never happens), I take my coffee and walk off, elbowing my way through the guffaws of my trip mates.

Not even close, I'm telling you. Not even close! C'mon, this adventurer is only is his 40s for chrissake. Must be the beard, say my oh-so-supportive friends.

Don't any of you say a word, not a single damn word. Leave it alone. No more AARP jokes. I'm warning you...