Every once in a while, I wake up in the morning and my first thought is “where did my life go?”
Life passages are kind of neat in a way, but why do they have to come around so fast? It seems to me I just graduated from high school myself and now my granddaughter does? The 56 years in between seemed more like 56 minutes!
Katie, didn’t I just get in trouble for giving you an ice cream cone in your stroller at only 7 months old?
And what’s the deal with public sports tournaments nowadays? It was just yesterday I used to participate in the “open” class in any sports tournament that I entered. Now I have to put my name in the “70 and over” grouping. And I’m far from the youngest in that category. That’s just plain revolting.
Go ahead and serve punk, make my day!
Speaking of life passages, I can’t even remember the first time I went into a fast food place to order a cup of coffee and heard the attendant at the register shout to the server “one senior coffee”, without even asking me.
There you go, sir. That’s one senior coffee and one large prune juice, on the house.
And don’t even get me started on the AARP. When they start sending out their myriad mailers a year before you turn 50, that’s pushing it! A daily reminder that you’re aging. How thoughtful. And offering all these great “deals” that only us old people can get. Right. Anybody that is 50 seems like a mere pup to me.
AARP = Aggravating All Respectable People
You should see the contact list on my cell phone. Even though I am in relatively good health, there’s a special folder just for the numbers of my various doctors. It reads more like the graduating class at Johns Hopkins Medical School. Let’s see, there’s the neurologist, the cardiologist, the proctologist, the dentist, the GP, the orthopedic, the dermatologist, the podiatrist, the otolaryngologist, the ophthalmologist and the pain management doctor. I’ve actually considered renting a room in the medical office building and converting it into an apartment to cut down on travel costs. My wife could come visit on weekends.
However, through it all I have had wonderful times and memories, a loving wife who is still far and away my best friend, a wonderful son and daughter, two great granddaughters and no complaints. Well, to be honest, I’ve had several complaints, but very few of them were legitimate.
So, for all of you young whippersnappers out there who are grousing about those big chunks of taxes they take out of your pay for Social Security and Medicare, take heart, you’ll be reaping the benefits well before you know it. And please take solace in the fact that, in the meantime, I am being a good steward of your hard-earned money. (Now where did I put that brochure on Tahiti again?)
Optional: If you have tissues, watch this video. Otherwise, don’t.
The Cvillean 
Your granddaughter is beautiful Al, congratulations to her! Life does indeed move quick, but you seem to have a good appreciation for present moments. That’s the secret I think.
Present moment is all we got when you think about it. Thanks for the comment Tricia.
Life does go by too quickly – unless you are sitting in a Doctor’s office waiting your turn. Then it goes way too slow!
That’s it! That’s why I make so many doctor appointments! You’re genius, Margy.
Hi Al. Lovely to read your post and know a little more about your life. You are not getting old, just gaining more wisdom and life experience 😉 Take care my blogging friend.x
I love “glass is half full” kinds of people of which you are obviously one! Gracias.
So true and so well said. We’re going to a wedding tonight for a friend’s daughter and it was just yesterday her parents brought her older brother, a new baby, to our house for brunch after we’d just moved to town. Where did the time go?
I’m looking for my hanky after watching that video.
Can’t say I didn’t warn ya!
Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle. It IS a privilege to get to grow old, I understand that, but the speed with which the days pass does make it hard to not yell “SLOW DOWN, I want more time to enjoy this!”….. Okay…vented ….now back to just being grateful to be here……
You are absolutely right, Marcia, it is a privilege. Lots of our classmates were not as fortunate. Thanks for commenting.
Al – you have a real gift for conveying the chapters in one’s life. This is so beautiful. It could be a commercial. Hugs to you and Pattie, Karen
Thanks, Karen. None of us know how many chapters will be in our life book, we might as well make each one as interesting as possible.
Getting old is a character building experience you do not seek but must endure. To smile in the face of challenges, heartened by the warmth of our family is probably the best we can hope for 🙂
Your eloquence once again shines through and truthfully, I like being a character.
I love you my Bro ❤ xXx
Back at ya, sis. 🙂
My husband and I grouse daily about getting old. It’s not for wimps, that’s for sure.
Who knew we would grow up to be so brave, eh?