I was driving the speed limit on the way home, taking my time after a fast-paced day. Suddenly, a decked-out truck came zooming past, smoke blasting from the dual exhausts.

The young male driver was in a hurry to not only zip past me but also the two cars in front of me. He scared the daylights out of everyone, judging from the row of brake lights in front of me.

At first, I was aggravated, but then I sat back and wished him a safe trip on the speedy journey the young feel compelled to travel.

When first learning to drive, the get-out-of-my-way journey was the only way to travel. I remember thinking the roads would be a lot better off if all those old people let the younger, smarter drivers – like me – have the roadways.

But age has a way of imparting sense, so there’s a few things I’ve learned along the way.

That teenage driver might get to his destination five minutes faster than I will, but he’s spent a lot more money on gas because he was hot dogging it.

His expensive tires won’t last long and any speeding tickets he gets will be reflected in higher insurance rates and a hefty money order to the court to pay off that speeding ticket.

In the work place, older workers are overlooked and undervalued. The young ‘uns believe the company was lost before they entered the door and all the “old fogeys” couldn’t possibly possess the skill sets they have.

I thought the same thing at the age of 19. I couldn’t understand why the older turned their noses up at the new word processing machines.

Back then, I loved any new equipment they installed in the building. I still feel that way but there’s a stipulation.

I’ve come to understand we don’t need to spend a lot of money to get something just because it’s new and shiny. Sometimes, the tried-and-true method works fine.

A $700 Smart Board might be able to call up Internet sites with the touch of a stylus, but that old black chalkboard works when the power goes off and the server quits.

My cell phone is about five years old, but it still makes calls, sends and receives text messages and takes pictures of where I parked so I can remember how to find my car when I’m done shopping.

Don’t get the wrong idea – I’m not sitting in a rocking chair with a shawl around my shoulders, sporting fuzzy pink slippers while I mutter under my breath about the high price of prescription meds.

This baby boomer plays board games but streams movies and Photoshops pictures on the computer. I talk to the TV remote control when looking for my favorite shows, and I can’t imagine life without the microwave and air conditioning.

More importantly, fads come and go, reusing and recycling are a lot better for the planet and eating at home is healthier and cheaper than hitting trendy restaurants every night.

Maybe I’ve grown into practicality.

I want to race down Highway 36 just like the younger ones, but I don’t want to pay for a speeding ticket or endanger others on the road.

Occasionally I want a new computer or the latest cell phone, but I don’t want to shell out a couple of thousand dollars to replace what works perfectly fine.

The younger generation might have a fire in their belly but I’ve got money in my checking account, contentment in my soul and the sense to know that one day the young fella in that truck will realize he’s the one paying for the gas he spent saving himself 30 seconds.

He’ll wise up to the fact that he’s replacing the tires on his vehicle hundreds of miles before they’d wear out naturally if he’d act his age.

When that day comes, welcome to my world, kid.

This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.