The year was 1978. It was summer vacation between my junior and senior years in high school.

And I got an offer for my very first job. It was a summer job at a local amusement park.

But, I needed a social security card so I could work.

So, my mom piled me into the station wagon and we drove down to the social security office in my home town.

And I got my official social security card (I still have that original one - laminated of course).

---- 45 years later I paid my second visit to that same social security office in my home town. The outside of the building was exactly the same, but the interior had been remodeled; and they now had computers.

And I applied for my social security retirement benefits.

I sat there in a plastic chair, waiting my turn, and wondering where the 45 years went.