It’s time for my annual brag, based on my survival and the failure of others to make it this far. Let’s start with William Shakespeare. Terrific writer and all, but couldn’t handle his syphilis. Allegedly. Next up is Napoleon. He conquered a big chunk of Europe, albeit temporarily. We have both met our own Waterloos for work purposes, but in my case the London train station has thus far proven to be less traumatic and detrimental to my life goals.
Proust and Moliere round out the French contingent in this game of life. Back across my side of the English Channel, is Bobby Moore, the one testicled England World Cup winning captain. There’s also Charles ‘Chinese’ Gordon, famed for his military exploits in the Orient. Over in the States, there’s James Gandolfini and the astronaut Jack Swigert, who took one step too far for both mankind and his own well being. Am I forgetting anyone? Oh yes, Mr Alzheimer. He belongs on this list too.
What do they all have in common? Death at the age of 51. Not a one of them made it to 52. Unlike I, who celebrates that milestone today. To all those famous folk, I offer my congratulations for making it so far, with the smug look of a chap who made it just a little bit further. Huzzah!
On to the 53rd Edition we venture…
The Mexile 
Onward and upward. I am midway through my 72nd year, and I look back on the 50s as the best decade of my life. Enough water under the bridge to have learned a thing or two… children grown and somewhat self sufficient… the world laid out for me like a breakfast buffet… and there I stood – still young and strong enough to enjoy it. This trend continued happily into my mid-sixties when a bum knee curtailed much of my galavanting. And towards the end of that non-illustrious stretch, COVID entered the scene. No need to waste one more word on that topic. Then, just as lockdown lifted, The first knee replacement could no longer be postponed. Sorry to report, other medical interventions followed. But-but-but, the panorama is widening again. Though not as mobile as I once was. I now have hard-won perspective on that score, and have come to terms. Sort of at least. I am curious to see what comes next. Congratulations Gary! Many happy returns.
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Thanks for the wishes and here’s hoping that my 50s are as good to me as yours were to you!
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I enjoyed the decade after age 52 because of the freedom I enjoyed after retiring from the steel mill, lots of travel, few responsibilities. The time after that decade has been good as well, just more family obligations, which bring their own rewards but preclude long stays in warm climates during our Ohio winters. Every day above the sod is a good day. Happy Birthday Gary-many more.
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I definitely prefer my skin and bones being above the sod. And I’m working on the ‘many more’ bit. I’m probably at the point where I need to look afresh at my diet though…
Thanks for your kind wishes.
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Happy birthday to you, Gary, and may you continue to write many, many more posts such as this!
(I’m a couple of decades ahead of you, and still going strong… touch wood.)
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Thanks William. I’m certainly not looking forward to a 19th October post titles “I Lost: 1st Edition…”
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Congratalation Gary. I hope you make it all the way to my of 81 years. Although at 81 that I don’t already have the German gentleman’s proble..,
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I’m hoping for at least 81 years. As a minimum!
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