Have a great birthday celebration with your family!
Posted on 03/08/2008 9:43:28 AM PST by andy58-in-nh
On Turning 50
Okay, so I'm 50 years old today, and the only reason I bring it up is because, well, actually there are two reasons. The first is because for a person to have lived half a century is really an accomplishment, especially if you lived as dangerously as I chose to in my youth. I no longer do many of the things I was doing way back then, such as drinking beer and chasing women all night long, drag racing my Dad's Pontiac, and smoking enough wacky weed to deforest half of Colombia. So: thank you, dear Lord for protecting me from myself, the police, and angry husbands, and not necessarily in that order.
The other reason I bring it up in this forum is because of our cultural obsession with endless youth. When I tell people I'm turning 50, one of the most common responses I receive is something like: "Well, you know, '50' is the new 40". Gee, thanks. And of course that must mean 40 is the "new 30". The problem with this popular point of view is not simply that we're all trying to escape the fact of our growing older, but that, culturally speaking, we continue to revere youth over experience. Which is further proof to me that the 1960s is the only decade in history to have lasted over 40 years.
We are all aware that people (read: Baby Boomers) spend a fortune trying to recover the person they used to see in the mirror through whatever medical means they can afford or obtain. Liposuction and Botox. Minoxidil and Metamucil. Cialis and Viagra. Laurel and Hardy.
If you got that last one, you're at least as old as I am, and probably older. So there. See, the concern I have with aging is not that 50 is the new 40, but that 20 appears to be the new 10. Our culture so reveres youth and inexperience that childishness now runs rampant. If you don't believe me, listen to most of our politicians for a few minutes, if you can stand to. Not only do they treat us like children, they frequently sound like them as well. In their incessant demands for our attention and protection from life's little boo-boos, the average (and need I say, "Liberal") congressman sounds increasingly like a 2-year old in a supermarket aisle whose mom is too busy yakking on her cell phone to keep the little darling from screaming and ripping boxes off the shelves. And while most shoppers just make faces and cover their ears, few dare to ever confront Just-Too-Busy Mom with the suggestion that perhaps it would be a good time to impose a little, you know, discipline on the little tyke.
A healthy swat on the rump might be a good idea. In the old days, it would have been a no-brainer. But no: in these more "enlightened" times, some busybody Baby Boomer Do-gooder might call the cops, and then Mom will have to spend her valuable cell phone time explaining to a bunch of strangers why she shouldn't be charged with child abuse. So Mom continues her yakking and the cute little emerging sociopath continues to throw a fit, and we all just look away and try to get out of the place as expeditiously as possible.
So now you know: I'm 50 and I'm officially a cranky older guy who doesn't understand why things can't be the way they were when I was a kid. Except for the part about drinking and racing and chasing skirts, that is. At least I got it out of my system, which is to say, I grew up. On the other hand, I do wonder whether a lot of other folks today will ever reach anything approaching true responsibility and maturity. Of course, many have, and will. I know that FReepers recognize such people instinctively. We call them "Conservatives". Tonight, I'm going out for dinner with my family for some good Italian food and red wine (not too much, though; acid reflux, you know) and then enjoy a nice cigar in my den before snuggling with the wife.
What the heck. Life is good.
Have a great birthday celebration with your family!
Nothing is more important in life than family. Checking your home page I have to say you have a very nice-looking one. Take care of them and yourself, and most everything else will take care of itself.
People like to complain, and I’m not exempt. Sometimes it’s just a lot easier than trying to change something we don’t like. You’re right though: we do live in a time and place when existence is far easier (and cushier) than ever before in history. As a culture, we often tend to dwell on the negatives, especially when goaded into such a frame of mind by our Political Class, whose members thrive on providing “solutions” to non-existent problems, or to ones they themselves have created.
I will be in Sept. Some mornings I can feel it...
BTW - you’ve got the best tagline I’ve seen in a long time.
Be happy you still can. ;-)
Happy Birthday and many more.
Thanks old man, and have a very happy birthday on Monday, too! And while I’ve got your attention here.... any chance of FReepin’ the Rochester monument again soon? I’m up for it anytime you are. CC’s to OCCASparky and PastYourEyes if you all are interested in getting together, even for a few libations.
Brother you said a mouthful. I celebrated my 47th bday by getting a total hip replacement
Happy Birthday Andy - and MANY,MANY more! Great points..
Let’s admit and embrace our ages, without saying 50 is the “new 40” and other such delusional beliefs. Elvis is alive too, I saw him yesterday! ;) That said, 50 isn’t old at all! Too close to there myself. HA!
Hugs,
Judy
Well congratulations there, Andy. I got 10 on ya. Almost 11. Almost up to Little Bill. I can draw SS next year and you can bet I’m gonna get all I can while there’s still something to get. Sorry if that doesn’t leave anything for you when your turn comes.
“;^)
I started my two oldest on the theme: Democrats are evil, they got the chant down, now the literature.
My son does not seem the least interested in politics. My daughter and her husband are good conservatives. My oldest granddaugter (16) is extremely conservative in her thinking. I’m quite proud of her. The others are too young yet. But they already know where Grampa stands.
Turning fifty would be worse if you were a woman. Between the hot flashes and the temporary moments of wanting to commit heinous murders, 50 ain’t so bad for a fellow.
Sorry, Happy Birthday, andy. Welcome to the 50+ club.
My wife is 47. I can hardly wait for the magic to begin. Uh oh, did I mention she lurks here? Umm.. what I meant to say, sweetheart, was that I can hardly wait to help you through that wonderful change of life when....Whoa! frying pan just missed my head there...
Thanks - I’m convinced that having a sense of humor is part of the reason you make it this far and hopefully a whole lot farther....
Crusty old bastard. At least I’m not tearing up my AARP application for another 8 years.
LOL. I had the pleasure of tearing mine up a few weeks ago. Of course I needed my reading glasses to see the damned thing first...
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