70

How old are you? Me? 70.

When I was born, FDR, A.A. Milne and Virginia Wolf were 70. I was too young to know anything.

When I was 10, Oliver Hardy, J. Paul Getty, Mary Pickford, Basil Rathbone and Pearl Buck were 70.  I think we probably rudely ingored them. All they did was sit in lawn chairs at ballgames, took naps and most assuredly never had sex, whatever that was.

When I was 20, Ray Kroc, Aunt Bea, Bobby Jones, Granny (Beverly Hillbillies) and Larry Fine were 70. I thought 70 year olds leaned a little bit, had a lifetime of sun, stood in the dugout leaning on the rail and spat tabacky.

When I was 30, Gene Kelly, Julia Child, Perry Como, Danny Thomas, Lady Bird, Karl Malden and Tonto were 70. I enjoyed 70 year olds then, quite a few years for them to have grown on me.

When I was 40, Betty White, Doris Day, Redd Foxx, Jack Klugman, Carl Reiner, Bea Arthur and Norman Lear were 70. 70 year olds were brilliant, our friend's parents, our schoolteachers, anyone who'd been on Carson a dozen or more times.

When I was 50, Johnny Cash, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Dawson, Roy Scheider, Petula Clark, Debbie Reynolds and Omar Sharif were 70. Legends. Still able  to get big roles. The first group of 70 yr olds too young to serve in WWII. Admired them, their worth.

When I was 60, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Carole King, Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson were 70. Again, admired, hell, in some cases they were our mad crush. They stood up to age well. Perhaps our classmates older siblings.

Now I'm 70, all I see are younger people. I hop on the motorzed cart at WallyWorld, turn left at the Pharmacy, right at toys and by gosh I ain't takin' my foot off the gas until I see someone older than me! Excuse me ma'am, what year did you graduate? jk.

Our friends, of course, are 70. We take frequent naps, and we remember sex. Now, if we watch TV or catch a Netflix episode and we have a crush, we're "creepy." OK, I give in, no more crushes,  push ups, laps run, jumping jacks, and we should probably stay away from spicy foods, or at least be near the bathroom if we do. 

There ain't no more library cards, cars that still run that had 8 track players. The hell is USB, that funny looking Q-something square we're supposed to scan, WHAT? You DON'T take CASH? The hell, I WANT MY MOMMY!

We lean a little now, closer to (VICTOR SHHH!)...OK. 

There are less of us. Yearly, monthly and even weekly of late. That rapidity will escalate from here on out.

Sure, that's sad, but I kinda like how, over the years, the more and more 70 yr olds became revered. Adored even. Admired. Why hell, we can puff our chests out, gals put on your greatest support bra, guys, pull yer bellies in if possible.

The ride ain't over. Oft we are asked wouldya do it all over, if so, what wouldya do different?

I wouldn't wanna do it all over. Oh sure, mistakes I've made a few                 thousand.

What I would do is not be in such a hurry to be old enough to play little league...drive....vote....be 21.... run thru the molasses of Monday thru Friday...age 65...

I'd go slower. Aside from getting me used to '70 slow', I'da paid more attention. Hugged a little tighter, longer...................and chased all them damn crushes when it wasn't creepy!

Love, Victurd 

ImPo'tent, so to speak......

An opED, but no, not that.

Old dog, new tricks? Nah, not really. Moreso, awakening, again I guess you could say....

Much, on social media upsets.  I still, occasionally, show my hiney.  Thankfully, I spilt Coke (ok dangit, beer) on the keyboard of my laptop, and my B and N no longer function.  (Using 'onscreen keyboard' one-letter at a time for this which makes blogging virtually impossible, YW), and, showing my hiney in retort, less frequent, TYVM Victor, YW.

Silent Night. I'm VERY slowly learning from wise folks who NEVER EVER show their hiney here. I wish I could name names, I shouldn't, just know, we all have friends who fit that mold, we LOVE them, and we so admire you, your wisdom.

Christmas is kinda like a selfie where ya got those barely visible, transparent images reflecting that literally make life rewarding.

Objects like family.. Oh, we (and they, I'm sure) may occasionally think 'What?'... 'Why?' and every once in awhile 'Are you serious? Crazy?' - but, by golly there ain't no better hug, no better smile, no better audible "I love you!", no better comfort, relaxation.

Friends, in that reflection. What would, could we do without friends? I'm finding, the longer you've known someone, the more times ya just simply smile at one another not really saying anything (whenya silently really are.)  Friends are the spices, herbs, desserts to the meal of life. 

Pets. Pets lend the loyalty of that missing loved one. They serve in the role of friend, loved one. They are attentive when many in life may not be.

Coworkers. Sure your hand may be forced, but the next thing ya know they jump on that reflextion of friend, loved one, and even sometimes relative!

The reflection of those once there. Now, an empty chair? Oh contrare, you are wth us in every way but the physical. TV shows, songs on the radio, the resemblance we see/hear in those who came after. You're there in the picture on the wall, the ornament on the tree, the aroma from the kitchen on the recipe you handed down. We 'see' you there, in our prayer, and we speak to you in our dreams.

We need you Christmas, but you knew that.

The jingles, the bells, the travels, the perils. The wrapping, the waiting, the hark, the herald, and of course the carols.

Red, green, bright lights, , turkey, mashed pataters, pecan pie to die for. The whole Christmas spread, a sight for sore eyes...yes please, I'll have another, who cares about the belly, the thighs.

On Dasher, on Prancer, on Ralphie, on Clark. Family love, yes even you cousin Eddie, pass the green beans, where's the confetti?

Sure Mr. Grinch, Ebenezer too... Rudolph, the Elves, can't forget, the Mrs...and that jolly guy, of course Mr Claus....

All, great reason for thanks and a pause...

Merry Christmas everyone, it's a most, wonderful time, of the year....

Love, Victurd

Kid stuff.......

Imagine if you will - in your office at work - 27 'workers' walking in all at once... bebopping (that's fancy for bouncing up and down as they walk)... smiling...  all.... 54 eyeballs gazed upon you, all in somewhat of a row - all thinking, "I'm really happy, I wonder how this 'boss' is gonna make me happier.?"

I never realized how lucky I was.

Forty pounds ago and thirty-plus years ago I taught Elementary PE.  I never, at least until maybe now, realized how lucky I was.

Tweren't because of me - it was because of them.

Kids teach, yeah they do.

They give you their all. You ever manage people?  You ever have a workforce full of folks that put 100% of their trust in you?  You are their everything, and in that moment, their only thing.  I think that's called loyalty.  (Remember, they teach.)

We, those entrusted to stand at the head of the class - ain't gots no idea what's gone on in their day. Single parent?  Being raised by Grandma?  Lost a parent?  Wearing the same outfit they had on yesterday?  Did they get breakfast?  Was their electricity, gas, recently turned off?  Did their jacket match the temperature? (Were they even wearing one?)

All those unknowns, yet, there they were, 27 of 'em, already to have decided "I'm going to have a happy, smiley, day."

I left education for all the wrong reasons. (Imagine if you will, walking away from that scenario to go load suitcases on airplanes for $15K more per year.)  Of course teachers need to be paid more - but this ain't about that.

This is about us being in good hands for tomorrow.  Sure, we hear about the Johnnys and Julies that are 30-something, living in their folk's basement playing video games (again and again.) For every one of those - there are a kajillion well behaved, well meaning, GOOD HEARTED little ones pointed in the right direction.

We adults - we have our "It can't be Monday already"... Our "Hump Day" (thankfully we're halfway there)... our TGIF...  our "IT'S THE WEEKEND!"...   Our, "are we there yet are we there yet" (Retirement age.)  A perty ugly cycle with the main theme of "oh woe is me."

Not kiddos.

Breaktime at work.  Ya ever see old farts breakneck out the door to run, scream, yell, bebop, whoop, hop, jump, tag, chase, suck up everything in life good there is to suckup?  Me neither.  Recess is like that though.

Then, we go home and we adult.  Literally, placing children in the backseat.  We are the ones making the bucks, thus, we, by nature, get all busy purchasing the rewards for ourselves.  Not all, of course, but most.  Children, feel slighted?  Nope, they still got that smile on their face.  Their look of loyalty, devotion, unending love.

A dozen donuts in a box on an office table.  Of course I'm grabbing one. If they ain't looking, I'm gonna grab another.  Back to recess.  Recess duty in fact. Recess duty is where you find the child, the child that very very rarely gets to walk into QT with mom or dad and buy a bag of Skittles.  When they do though, the next day at recess, they tap you on the shoulder, say your name and proudly hand you the mostly melted last three Skittles that were in the bag they'd been saving for you.  Children teach.

This past year I've been able to witness a little man, he's 6 I think. His father was killed in an accident when he was still in his mom's belly. For me, that would be akin to a 'get out of jail card free' if I chose to live in a crappy mood every day.  I'd be 'ok' to walk around asking "Why me?" whenever I wanna.  If anyone has 'earned' the right to lead a bitter life - it is he.  Except, he's remarkable.  You cannot, willnot wipe the smile of life off his face.

I've observed, in the last few years, children attending their 7th school district in three years.  If that were me, I probably wouldn't talk to anyone at school for ten years for fear of one day assuredly 'losing them', ie, moving on again. Not the kids I saw. They adapt.  They are remarkable.  They teach.

A very close friend shares "my kids are really well educated, well intended, but, my 8 year old granddaughter is 'the adult' in their family."

Children, are they perfect?  Of course not, they're HUMAN, but... what wonderful little humans they are!

Bend 'em, shape 'em, still, they come outta the wash unscathed.  Undaunted.  Happy.  Loyal. Loving.  Giving.

I am pretty sure it was Andy Williams who once said "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

It is said be kind, be nice, we never know what a fellow adult is going thru. Same with kiddos.

Of course this ain't a lecture - it's more to remind ourselves to try to match their unbridled enthusiasm, smile for smile, mile for mile.  Children are simply incredible human beings, we owe it to them for us to attempt to be so as well - and it's just a guess, but also a pretty safe bet, we'd be much better off for it too.

I love the picture of the puppy running thru the gate and it's entitled "Live life like they left the gate open."

In our case, maybe they left the door open and we can all "Live the day like they left the gate open and it's recess time!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Bebopping - it's the most wondeful time of the year...

Love, Victurd