When the 'Old Guy' at Work is Actually Younger Than You: A Night Auditor’s Tale of Age, Sports, and Surprising Pain
Working the hotel night shift is a strange and wonderful experience. It’s equal parts mystery, comedy, and camaraderie—the kind of job where you find yourself discussing the most random, honest topics at 3 a.m. with coworkers who become your midnight tribe.
Recently, a story from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk perfectly captured one of those moments when humor, humility, and the passage of time all coalesce into pure comedic gold. Two seasoned night auditors, both former athletes with a few hard-earned aches, found themselves on the receiving end of an “old age” lecture from a coworker who was… well, not quite as ancient as he thought.
Let’s set the scene: It’s deep into the night shift at a hotel. Two full-time night auditors—both well into their 40s and both with a history of athletic heroics—are reminiscing about how surprisingly intact they still are, given their years of football tackles, wrestling takedowns, and martial arts sparring. If you’ve ever played a sport past your teenage years, you know the drill: every creak and pop in your joints becomes a badge of honor, a story to share, and sometimes, a punchline.
Enter the hotel’s restaurant supervisor. Hearing the conversation, he decides to impart his own wisdom—delivered with the gravitas reserved for those who’ve truly seen it all:
“Just wait until you boys are my age. Then you’ll really feel pain.”
The punchline lands when he reveals his age: a sprightly 38. Cue the laughter. The two “boys” he’s advising are actually 42 and 46. The image of these two night shift veterans nearly falling out of their chairs from laughter is just too good.
Age Is Just a Number (But Try Telling That to Your Knees)
This story is relatable on so many levels. Who among us hasn’t been on both sides of that conversation? At 25, you think 35 is ancient. At 38, you’re suddenly aware of “old man noises” every time you stand up. At 46, you realize your body is basically a pop-up book of sports injuries. And yet, someone younger still thinks you need their sage advice about growing older!
It’s the ultimate workplace rite of passage: the moment you realize you’re not the youngest in the room, but you’re definitely not the oldest either. And sometimes, the “oldest” is just a state of mind (or in this case, a state of knees, elbows, and backs).
Hotel Night Shifts: The Great Equalizer
If you’ve never worked a hotel night shift, let me tell you—it’s where age, experience, and personality all blend together. You bond over weird guests, compare notes on the best coffee, and, yes, commiserate over whose shoulder will be the first to give out while printing registration cards.
Stories like this one highlight that the night shift is a level playing field. Whether you’re 25 or 65, you’re all united in the struggle to stay awake, the hunt for midnight snacks, and the collective cracking of joints as the clock creeps toward sunrise.
Aches and Pains: The Universal Language
What makes the Reddit tale especially charming is how it pokes fun at the way we all “age up” in our heads. Some people hit 30 and start talking about their youth like it was the Stone Age. Others, like our two night auditors, seem to defy the years, at least in spirit (even if their knees are writing angry letters to the editor).
There’s a subtle wisdom here, too: No matter how old you are, there’s always someone out there who thinks you’re either over the hill or still climbing it. The real secret is this: We’re all just making it up as we go, comparing old injuries, and laughing at ourselves (and each other) along the way.
So, Who’s the Real "Old Guy"?
Maybe it’s the one who complains the loudest. Maybe it’s the one who can’t remember where they put the spare room keys. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s whoever gets the most joy out of the inevitable weirdness of night shifts—regardless of what the calendar says.
Your Turn: What’s Your “Old Age” Story?
Next time someone at work starts doling out “when you get to my age” wisdom, just ask their age—you might get a laugh and a story worth retelling. And if you’ve got a tale of your own about age, aches, or hotel hilarity, share it in the comments below! After all, laughter is the best medicine… second only to a good heating pad.
Stay spry, my night shift friends. And remember: you’re only as old as your last funny story.
What’s the funniest “I’m getting old” moment you’ve had at work? Share your stories below!
Original Reddit Post: Co-worker says the funniest thing.