Posted on 10/28/2005 8:20:07 PM PDT by RightOnline
No big deal to hardly anyone but me, but today.....ol' RightOnline turned the Big Five-Oh. The Half Century Club. Halfway to centenarian and greetings from the fat guy on the Today Show......
I just thought I would take a few moments, after a thoroughly wonderful day, to share a few things I've picked up or things I've reflected on today with my beloved fellow FReepers (and you ARE just that, beloved ......well, as a group....some of ya.....well.....)
1. Whatever 50 is supposed to feel like, I don't feel it. I lift weights 5 days a week and am in better shape than when I was 25. So there.
2. No gray hairs.....nary a one. I feel cheated. I've earned plenty.
3. Nothing.......absolutely, nothing......is more important than your family. My lovely wife of nearly 28 years who has put up with me all these years and still looks 20 years younger than she is, my seven children who have ALL made me proud (ranging from a 26-year-old 2nd Lt. in the Army leading a Stryker platoon to a 4-year-old hooked on Spiderman and Batman). Cherish them, people, and keep them close.
4. Republicans don't have a corner on morality or good ideas or decency or common sense. It's merely that Democrats lack all of the above.
5. I've been playing rock guitar since I was not quite 14. Production and marketing have moved ahead rapidly since the late '60's music industry, but today's music that passes for "rock" largely sucks. I'd take "Live at the Fillmore East" to anything that has been released in the last 15 years.
6. Have a job? Great. Keep it and do the best you possibly can at all times. Have a career? Even better.......just make damned sure you enjoy it. Aim to work for yourself, but plan for it like you've never planned for anything in your life.
7. The most fun I ever had professionally was when I was flying for Uncle Sam (I'm an AF Academy grad). The responsibilities I had as a pilot in the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War have been unequalled in all the intervening years. I don't say this out of regret or a sense of loss; I say it from a sense of pride and to encourage young people to seriously consider the military in their younger years. It'll help you tremendously.
8. Don't number your close friends in the dozens. That's disingenuous. Number them in a small handful and keep them very close, no matter how far away they live.
9. Don't try to keep up with the Jones'. The Jones' are idiots. Set your own goals, care what YOU think, and live well within your means.
10. Love your God and His Son and try your best to live for 'em. You'll fall short as we all do (you wouldn't believe what my church puts up with from me). I WILL say that Jesus took a bullet for me, and I'll never, ever forget it. He'll get my best.......for life. I hope you feel the same.
I've been on this Forum for seven years now, and it's better, more vibrant, more interesting (if a tad less cerebral....no complaint there) than it has ever been. God bless all of you, God bless your families, and let's continue to have fun kicking Lib behind on a regular basis. See ya over the next 50......
A blessed birthday to you RightOnLine.
(Note: 50 is the YOUTH of old age.)
Hey!....right behind ya!
Wow, happy birthday!! I will be 50 in November, and my husband of 29 years is throwing a surprise party for me tomorrow night that I know about!! I agree with all of your points--it's great to be 50 no matter what anyone else says. I am more fit and happier than I could ever imagine at my "old" age!! Great post; timely for me.
Enjoy it all now, in another ten years or so it will all start turning to crap.
Just Kidding.
Hah! Beat you by a little over a month (9/23). Happy birthday, old timer.
Family or friends do anything special for you?
Dan
Welcome to the club.
Happy Birthday, noob. Good advice!
But if you don't have grey hair like me, can you at least tell me that your hair is thinning?
I'd like one thing to taunt you about. ;-)
Happy Birthday! And many more to come.
Every day, my friend; every day.
Fifty didn't scare me last year. Old age doesn't scare me either. Put God first in your life and everything else will be okay. Treasure every day. Treasure every friend.
What wisdom one gets with 50 years!!
Happy birthday and may you have at least as many more.
No, not even thinning. I'm the only male in my family that has hair and lots of it; no idea why or how. Even growing it out lately for some reason. Wife doesn't care much for it, though. :)
BTW I'm right behind you, so in six months tell me what it's like :-)
Happy Birthday and congratulations on leading a great life and bringing up such wonderful kids.
May you enjoy many many more years in good health and happiness with your family.
Well, happy birthday and may you grow another 50 annual rings!
Yeah, well I'm still 2 years older than you, kid! I remember when I was a little kid and thought high-school kids were old people.
Happy Birthday! Great advice.. especially taking care of your health.. I kind of failed miserably with that one. Good for you. Many more Happy B'days to come.
FRegards.
And you sure don't look like it.
Not much surprises me anymore, but this sure did.
Happy birthday.
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