Being 55.

Today I turned 55.

On some days it seems I am 30 years older than most of the people around me in my agency.

They speak about things with such conviction. The conviction of a Jehovah's Witness in the subway at 10PM on a Sunday.

Things that mean nothing to me. 

They talk about conversations involving brands. Though I've never had one beyond, I hate fucking airlines, I hate Time-Warner, I hate Verizon and I love Apple and Nordstroms.

They talk about Instagram. Though I have no interest whatsoever in seeing anyone else's pictures.

They talk about online experiences. Another concept that baffles me.

I have never been one of the cool kids and never will be.

And like I said, the whole social thing is lost on me. And you know what, if I see a concert, I think about the opus I heard or the artist. Not my payment mechanism. Paying for tickets is something I did myself. I don't praise a credit card for my hard work.

I am officially passed by in my agency.

They don't take me seriously, I guess because I don't take a lot of these things seriously.

But when a big brand defining idea is needed, suddenly Pinterest seems like a toy. A Facebook page is as useful as a one-legged jockey.

That's when my phone rings.

I stand up. My ancient knees crack.

I go to the meeting.

I find a path, a place, a position for a brand.

Then I go home.

That's life for an old person in advertising today.