A defining characteristic of aging is the way things stop making sense. My mother was excited when a Dunkin’ Donuts opened in her neighborhood. In her mind, she pictured herself walking there in the morning, ordering a coffee and a donut from a person behind the counter, maybe even sharing a conversation with them. Instead there was only a screen to interact with and the people behind the counter would not even make eye contact to help her out. She never got her donut.

The other day I drove to a spot for a hike and had to pay to park on the street. There were no parking meters to feed the quarters I keep in my car. Instead, I had to download an app, create an account, and link it to my credit card and license plate. It was easy enough for me, if more time-consuming than dropping coins in a slot, but I can see the day coming when something as simple as that will be difficult and, eventually, impossible.

The funny thing is, what older people think of as simple (because we’ve been doing it since we were children) can seem ridiculously and needlessly complicated to younger people who are always on the lookout for newer and better ways to do things. Learning new ways to do things is what can seem ridiculously and needlessly complicated to people who have already found a way that works for them. And nothing is better than that. Is it?

I, who took the money?
Who took the money away?
I, I, I, I, it's always showtime
Here at the edge of the stage
And I, I, I, wake up and wonder
What was the place, what was the name?
We wanna wait, but here we go again
I, takes over slowly
But doesn't last very long
I, I, I, I, no need to worry
Everything's under control
O-U-T, but no hard feelings
What do you know? Take you away
We're being taken for a ride again
I got a girlfriend that's better than that
She has the smoke in her eyes
She's coming up, going right through my heart
She's gonna give me surprise
I think it's right, better than this
I think you can if you like
I got a girlfriend with bows in her hair
And nothing is better than that (Is it?)
Down, down in the basement
We hear the sound of machines
I, I, I'm driving in circles
Come to my senses sometimes
Why, why, why, why start it over?
Nothing was lost, everything's free
I don't care how impossible it seems
Somebody calls you but you cannot hear
Get closer to be far away
And only one look and that's all that it takes
Maybe that's all that we need
All that it takes, I'll bet it's right
All it takes, if it's right
I got a girlfriend that's better than that
And she goes wherever she likes (There she goes)
I got a girlfriend that's better than that
Now everyone's getting involved
She's moving up going right through my heart
We might not ever get caught
Going right through, try to stay cool
Going through, staying cool
I got a girlfriend she's better than that
And nothing is better than you (Wait a minute)
I got a girlfriend that's better than this
But you don't remember at all
As we get older and stop making sense
You won't find her waiting long
Stop making sense, stop making sense
Stop making sense, making sense
I got a girlfriend shes's better than that
And nothing is better than this (Is it?)