BEING EIGHTY-TWO

Several years ago ( or maybe more) I would tell my wife, ” I met the nicest Senior Citizen today”. Now at eighty-two years of age guess who has become that Senior Citizen several years over. Hopefully nice is thrown into the conversation if referring to me.

Last year when I turned eighty-two my neighbor asked me, ” If I could take ten years off my life would I do it”? Without hesitation I said “No”. Like most people my life has been a series of “ups” and “downs”. Many of the ups were predictable and many were unpredictable. Suffice to say many of the downs were predictable and many were unpredictable. One of the many downs was I should have talked less and listened more. One of the many ups is a loveing family and friends.

If you are pondering the “ten year” question maybe thats a good thing—or then again maybe not. Why was I so quick to say “no”? At eighty- two I am very content with my life. Sure, winning the lottery would be nice, but I would probably give most of the money away. My health has taken some bumps in the road but that is being handled, Of course the world is divided and upside down,in more ways than I care to discuss, but there is little I can do to correct that ( except a little prayer for better things to come).

The bible says,” Faith, love and hope are the greatest gifts and love is the greatest of these”. Not one to contradict the bible, but in todays world AR15’s and Glock 9’s have replaced love with hate and violence. I gladly accept my eighty-two years of age and HOPE in the near future LOVE can substitute hate. Of course you have to have the third ingredent to make it all happen FAITH. Then if my neighbor poses the question again, my answer may be “Yes”.

Be safe.