“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.” George Orwell, 1984
For someone who "came of age" during the tumultuous 60's and early 70's, reaching the ripe old age of 68 is somewhat of a surprise.
I was a freshman in high schoolI in the fall of 1965, reading Orwell's novel, "1984." Though published in 1949, it ultimately proved to be an insightful glimpse at the future...you know, omnipresent government surveillance, political propaganda and "Big Brother." Anyway, I remember how the year 1984 seemed so far into the future. I couldn't imagine being alive that long.
Yet, much to my surprise, here I am celebrating/mourning my 68th birthday. Somehow I survived unspeakable teenage dares, street racing my souped up 327 Cu. Inch/350 horsepower '69 Camero, the college subculture of rebellion, protest, sex, drugs, rock and roll, then 4 years of racing motorcycles and wound up dodging Vietnam by the skin of my teeth, as we pulled out while I was in bootcamp.
Today, 1984 is a half-century in the past. Most of my life's sand lies spent at the bottom of the "hourglass," and it's hard to say how much remains on top. I feel like I'm in the "Bonus Round" of some TV gameshow, and I just keep on winning against the odds. I never planned on living this long, but who am I to argue with the gods?
Ah yes, happy birthday for the 30th. Keep letting me know what it is like out there as I am following you by a year and need all the help I can get!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Just remember you did one thing perfectly correct in your life and her name is Bobbie.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about being surprised to be this old. Last week I was in the Social Security office applying for benefits. How did I get this old?!? You and Bobbie are still amazing in your ability to hike the mountains.
ReplyDeleteAh Mark, such words somehow are disjointed from those brilliant fully alive red colores of your gorgeous world at the moment. Beautiful. I am very glad you are still around to post them.
ReplyDeleteNow where talking, philosophizing & reminiscing, your back in the GAME, got keep those ratings up pal, don't want to see them pull the plug on your show :)
ReplyDeleteJust read in the Plaindealer the Bon Ton closed, funny too as I passed it several times while in town and thought it look pretty quite for early Oct, guess the locals are all going to the brewery now.
Lovely photos, especially the first two and of course the fall colors in them red canyons, OMG.
Missed ya
I believe it was the "Buen Tempo," not the "Bon Ton." At least I hope not...
DeleteHappy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThere's no point in arguing with the gods...just savor every moment you have! And I see you do that all the time! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteAt my last VA annual checkup I was asked what I thought to be a stupid question "What are your health goals?" I said "I hope to live forever, and may you never die". Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHa. That is a rather silly question for us Geezers :) Like, "I'd like to compete in the next Olympics...and not the 'Senior ones.'" Health professionals...sheesh.
DeleteI’m right behind you in the age department. Your thoughts on it all are so familiar, including “1984” and never imagining I’d become this old. Glad to see that we are both hanging in there. Keep on Truckin!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday ya old fogie! Your spirit is young, your soul is eternal, continue to defy the limits imposed on you by a lazy society!!
ReplyDeleteAnother one bites the dust. Years, that is. Rather than wasting your time hiking and biking at your age, you should be tackling age appropriate activities like, say...dominos. Or painting in water colors. Oh, that's right. You've already done that. So, it's domino's then. :)
ReplyDelete