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......
Welcome to the club
TC Rider (53)
I am enjoying my 50's. I don't have gray hair either, but I thank my colorist for that! LOL!
If you are lucky!
50 huh?.............lookin' good old man, looking gooooood!
A little late, but HAPPY 50! I thoroughly enjoyed your post. It brought tears to my eyes remembering when I was 50...it just gets better.
Also, thank you for serving our Country and may the Lord bless with you and your Family.
Also a little late, but Happy 50th!
...and about those grays, feel free to have some of mine. ;)
I find one of the good things about getting older is not regretting the years left behind if you felt you did them right the first time around. I'm waiting for my first Social Security check in a couple of weeks and looking forward to the "raise". It's rewarding to look back on a fulfilled life but also healthy to look forward. When you have Jesus, it makes it a lot easier as you know the best is yet to come.
Happy Birthday! May you celebrate at least 50 more!!!
To all of you........thank you all so very, very much for the kind, witty, funny, and supportive comments on this little indulgence of a thread. Appreciate y'all more than you know.
How'd you do on the back nine?
You've got three months on me. Hope your day was lovely.
Happy Birthday, ROL. I look forward to many more years of reading your wise thoughts here on FR.
I turned 50 a couple of years ago and treasure every one of my gray hairs. Now the jowls that make me look like Arlen Spector I could do without.... lol
Pinz
It was................thank you. :)
YOur assignment for your fiftieth yera is to create a rock band. Develop about a dozen cover songs and then begin writing your own music. Bring back some good rock.
Cool. Do I need really long hair and will chicks dig me 'n' stuff like the old days??
A very happy 50th birthday to you! FR is better because you are here. God bless you and your wonderful family.
OK........I may regret this, but........here's one The Lovely Wife just took this morning to comply with the request. No laughing allowed.
You've just outed her in the reflection of your glasses.
Happy Birthday!
You mean her Super Duper Secret Squirrel status just got.........compromised???? Yee gads.
[........the glasses..........shoulda thought about the glasses............]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.