justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

Age – is it only a number?

It’s been said that age is just a number - or is it? While growing up, I remember having a problem waiting until I achieved that “special” birthday: Ten was special, then 13 when I became a teenager, on to 16 when I could legally drive, then on to 21, 30, 40 and now, that special birthday coming soon when I’ll become an octogenarian.

Octogenarian.

I don’t know many of them, and now I’m going to be one!

Eighty – an age that sounds so old, with a plethora of limits and disabilities. I’m so fortunate to be blessed by having lived all these “ages,” looking back on experiences, accomplishments, and regrets.

I also look back on all the people who have contributed to what I’ve become. Some lessons were easy and some not so easy. To be completely candid, this “old dog” is still learning “new tricks.” (I was certain that by the time I hit 80, there’d be nothing left to learn the hard way.)

I’ve always been good at remembering people, and the experiences we’ve shared, and for that I am forever grateful.

In my early years of teaching/training, I remember suggesting we tend to look at the time we have left to “do” something as thinking of someone you know that’s twice your age: you’re 25 and you know many people who are 50 – so you have “plenty of time.” Then on to 30, still knowing many folks who are 60. But when you’re 40, just a few are 80. And here I am.

There aren’t any 160 year olds, so, having been a “late bloomer”, I better get to doing what I’ve wanted to do.

Time’s a wasting!