Recently I thought about the birthday party that the family had for Jackie's oldest sister Janet when she turned 50. All of the sisters and brothers and spouses dressed up as really old people. I found a baggy pair of my dad's pants, a mismatched shirt, old timer hat, cane, and then walked into the party bow legged and grumpy. "Eh - what's that kiddo? - now just hold your horses sonny."
My hot date Jackie arrived wearing a yellow polyester pant suit, garish sweater, purple wig and her stylish accessory was a pill box. Party decorations of course included the black balloons and a variety of best wishes cards all having something to do with passing gas and passing memory. We were in our early 40's then and thought we were so funny.
Today I am on the cusp (first time I have ever written that word) of turning 65. I am scheduled next week for the introductory physical that you get when starting Medicare but I am very thankful that I feel great and look good, although I remember what my dad told me how to describe the 3 stages of life - Youth - Middle Age, and - You're looking good!"
I remember very clearly that my dad was at the age of 65 when he would come into the break room at the business and tell whatever group that was gathered one of his old stories. Dad loved telling stories, we had heard them many times but they were always funny and we enjoyed them because he had so much fun telling them. But beginning at the age of 65 there were times when he started telling the same story a few minutes later. Sometimes I could head him off at the pass but Bill was a lot quicker than I was and occasionally he got going. Everybody loved my father and we would all laugh even harder the second time. But it was worry some.
It was a nice morning at work today. I was standing outside after setting up the course in the parking lot, the weather was mild, I had energy and felt fine and was very thankful to be so blessed. As far as I can tell I still have my wits about me. Yesterday I asked a young lass of 18 if she was from the area. She responded that she was but originally her home was up north at White Cloud. Knowing that White Cloud is a little rural community I remarked to the girl: "Oh, White Cloud. I think that's where my computer stores all it's stuff!" Crystal of course believed me but didn't get my humor although it doesn't matter, I manage to keep myself happy.
Jackie gave me a hair cut tonight so I would look fine on my birthday. She has been my barber for over 42 years and at first I use to pray really hard before hand so that God would guide her scissors and razor and I would end up with a good cut and not get my ear snipped. I still pray before each hair cut but not as hard. Now there is a lot less to worry about, if you know what I mean.
I see people coming in for tests who are a lot younger than me but look and move a lot older. I am blessed everyday with a loving wife who has always laughed at my jokes and who knows how to gently persuade me to be a better man and to do my part. I have been blessed with a large happy family and still have little ones whom I can wrap my legs around and tell them that they will NEVER get out of my trap (they all have their sly tricks to escape grandpa, or "Pea Pa" as Zane calls me).
Writing is another blessing for me. As far as humor is concerned, there are so many of my stories that I really would forget if I wasn't able to write them down in a reasonable amount of time. And there is so much that I've learned and experienced spiritually that I want to be able to enrich others with. I enjoy writing to encourage, to teach, and hopefully to be used by the Holy Spirit to bring truth to those that are lost. I want there to be a record of who I am for my grandchildren and for their children so that in some way I can help them in their walk of faith.
And when I was young I used to write poems. Now many years later there are some things that are better said as poems and so I am thankful to have a channel to occasionally write those as well. The great thing to me about writing poems is that they always make me quite happy. It doesn't matter if someone else even likes them or gets them.
That being said let me thank anyone who is so kind to read what I post. I am truly honored and humbled that you would take more than a few seconds of your scan time to read all or even some of the crazy stuff I have written. Some I know is good, some I know is average and you may even think some is crap. And to that I say - Now just hold your horses sonny!
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