Chapter 1 Episode 11. October 11, 2017 "I Am Too Young To Be This Damn Old"

  Having just returned from a promotional cross-country photo journey for HSD (8700 miles, 27 states), I realized just how lucky I am to be in the condition that I am.  Having abused my body most of my life, I am really lucky to feel this good.  By abused I mean that I never played sports, have never been in a gym (other than when I was in school as a kid), had smoked unfiltered cigarettes for over 40 years, until 10 years ago, like my booze straight up (daily if possible), and have done warehouse type work my whole life.  The road tourists that I encountered were mostly retirees over 60 years old, like myself.  It made me think about this portion of my life and where I have been.  I mean "how do you know where I'm at, if you don't know where I've been, you get where I'm comin' from?"   As I get older, I think I am getting smarter!!!  Now that is a pretty gutsy statement, isn't it??  By smarter I mean that over the years a "smart" person has learned to do only what is necessary to get the job done to satisfy themselves. They have learned that meeting someone else's expectations, without any economic gain, is just a waste of, now, limited time.  Yes, limited time is what I am really referring to.  End of life is inevitable so maximization of that time is now even more crucial than when we were young.  Much of what we do now may be for the last time!  As you have all come to realize, I am usually pretty wordy, but, in this case I will share an e-mail sent by a favorite relative to express "Poppa's Perspective" views.  I hope you will let it impact you with the same intensity that it did to me during this adventure I have just completed and hope you can all have the "limited time" to take a similar longed for adventure of your own.   -HighSpeedPoppa  

THE BACK NINE

I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE.

I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD.

THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK.

READ SLOWLY.

AND THEN IT IS WINTER

You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But, here it is... the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray.  They move slower and I see an older person now.  Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change....

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant, but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though I'm on the back nine, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets.  There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the back nine or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life, so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember, and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a gift to you.  The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY Remember: It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS:

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!

~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf.

~The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore, but you really don't care that you aren't as interested.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..

~You tend to use more 4  letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???

~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.