[Red in Chicago]

Originally Posted by marcshoe

I'm in lousy shape and people still think I'm fifteen years younger than I am. It's genetics. My mother is just now getting a little gray, and she'll be 71 in a few weeks. I actually grew a beard so I would look older, but it only works when it gets long enough for a few gray hairs to show up.

So I'm 50, look 35, and feel 80, mostly because of kidney stones and neck spurs.

I suspect folks are just trying to be nice. I've done so plenty of times.