Phasing Out The Bad Signs

(I am driving with my mother. A 55+ community is being built in the area, and a billboard has been beside the road for well over a year advertising the place. It shows a smiling, gray-haired couple standing beside a sample residence and includes the words, “LAST PHASE.”)

Mom: “I don’t think that’s very nice.”

Me: “What do you mean?”

Mom: “Calling the place ‘Last Phase.’ That’s a terrible name for a senior community! It’s like they’re telling people they’re in the last phase of their lives!”

Me: “Mom, that’s not what it’s called.”

Mom: “It’s not?”

Me: “No!” *starting to laugh* “They mean they’re in the last phase of building!”

Mom: “Ohh!” *also laughs* “That does make more sense! I’ll have to tell [Her Cousin]; the last time he was up to visit, he said the same thing I did!”

(They’ve since changed the billboard to one that shows the name of the community in much larger letters, and doesn’t include the phrase “last phase” anywhere. I keep wondering if other people had the same idea!)