Turnin' 50?

I woke up this morning thinking about age.  In a few weeks I'll be turning 50.  This post is not about the actual age or the process of turning 50, necessarily.  This is actually about respect or what you can expect for the "elderly".   Perhaps it's just me but it seems that when an individual turns 50 they are viewed differently.  I've had gray hair since my 30's.  That didn't seem to do the trick.  Again, it could be just me, but it seems that when I say I'm 50 or almost 50 the reaction is a little more of respect than one would have of a younger person, even in their 40's.  I can't confirm this nor will I pursue it nor expect any "respect" than what I currently get.  Bottom line?  What difference does it make whether a person is 50 years and one day or 49 and 364 days old?  I don't know, but it sure seems like a knowing glance, a perceived shift in attitude, a certain deference to this soon-to-be 50 year old white male.  A friend recently told me, "Life begins at 50!"  I'm not sure about that, but I hope nothing really changes from life as it is now.  My hope is that when I look back on these next few weeks and then the ensuing days/weeks/months ahead I'll say, "50?  Who's 50?"