On Reaching a Certain Age

“It takes about 10 years to get used to how old you are.” Raymond Michel

”.. it’s not really a fact that you grow old at all.”  Maurice Goudet

My wife & I both turned 70 this year. Each time I reach a number that ends in 0, it causes me to ponder. Not at 20, you will live forever. At 30, you realize it’s time to grow up. At 40, you realize you won’t win that Nobel Prize. At 50, you view the empty nest and wonder how they grew up so fast. At 60, you look ahead with trepidation and anticipation to life after work. (Don’t retire. The word suggests interment. Think of it as “life phase III”, free from the demands of a job. It should not mean you are ready to roll over and die in front of the TV. And consider gratitude if your life offers this opportunity. Life after work is not an option for many Americans.)

But  70  - well  now. An intimidating number.  Perhaps it’s the shock of Psalm 90 v 10 KJV  “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (For you non-math majors: 3x20 + 10 = 70.)

Uffda. But, on the brighter side, once having reached this august age, life expectancy tables say you have a decade or more left. But 70 inevitably stirs contemplation of death. Like - wow - my children are going to need a really huge dumpster.

And a review your past. I suggest you clear away the bad stuff and embrace the good. Apply that early onset “sometimers” forgetfulness disease you are experiencing. And share those good memories with those you love.

And the present. Unlike China, 70 year olds are not so revered in the good-ol' USA. Don’t concede to irrelevancy. I am still young inside my head even though my body creaks and objects.

Of course, there are concessions. Dinner out at 5:00 to beat the rush and home by 8:00 yawning. I avoid ladders and night driving. But, on the other hand, I can still form a complete sentence, do a 20 mile bike ride, answer half the Jeopardy clues. My wife still has the energizer bunny in harness and can walk me into the ground. Best of all, our grandchildren still seem to tolerate us.

And one last thing. When that fact or face you know you should know does not appear, comfort yourself that data retrieval times are inevitably slower due to the incredible amount of data that must be searched.
 

Sorry to go all preachy on you. 70 also triggers the illusion of wisdom. We’re doing pretty well.

Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year

Copyright © 2017 Dave Hoplin

I leave you with the words from the good Lord Tennyson from his poem, Ulysses, which I hope will encourage and inspire you'all of a certain age.

... Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. ...

Tho' much is taken, much abides; 

and tho' We are not now that strength which in old days 

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; 

One equal temper of heroic hearts, 

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will 

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.