The Nine Is Fine

Being at the gym by 6:15 isn’t my regular morning routine. But when a circuit-training compadre celebrates her 90th, it’s worth the effort. The good news: People apparently know better than to make those ableist birthday “jokes” by 90.

The unconscious ageism: Someone called her "29 again," and someone else proposed turning the 9 (made of cupcakes) into a 6, to "make her younger."

The birthday girl, however, didn’t express any wish to change her age. Her only (good-natured) complaint was that people kept interrupting her to pose for photos, when she was trying to get in a good workout.