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......
D**m you're old.
Heck, I won't be 50 fer another 4 weeks. Er, 5 weeks.
(Good thing you've proved geezers don't croak when they hit the bald spot in the road. (Er, on their tires.))
Now, xsex, ya see, isn't even close to that age: Heck, she graduated high school before I did, and she's only 29. And she maintains ya gotta have grandkids before you're realllllllly old.)
and BTW, my wife has just pointed out that 42 is not too old to have (another) baby. Jerk. ;)
bump
And be excellent to each other.
Birthdays are not for the weak - I personally am very weak and stopped having birthdays a few years ago.
Robert, you may be turning 50 soon but you act like a freaking preteen! ;^)
Right On! 21 days before I turned 50 I was freakin' out! I finally realized that it's just a stupid number and I am still "me" no matter what number is in front of my name. I also look alot younger than my birth certificate says and refuse to give in to the societal pressure that says, "Act your age." Well, heck, I do - because I believe your real age is this: "How old would you be, if you didn't know when you were born?"
I remember sitting on the sidewalk curb at grade school, looking jealously at the sixth graders and how cool they were, thinking, "I'll be in sixth grade!"
Hope you had a GREAT birthday...and thanks for sharing your words of wisdom.
I hear that (see #118) quite a bit. It's always meant nicely......but sometimes makes me a tad uncomfortable. No idea why; maybe I think I NEED to grow some gray hair........LOL.
Hit 50 what? :^)
50 bars? ;^)
50 parked cars? 8^)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Remember, senility is its own reward. At least try to remember, or -- what was I saying?
Looks like youve learned a few things over the years.
50 wasnt a bit traumatic for me but 30 did me a number. All my friends were still in their 20s. Ill be hitting 60 in less than six months its already getting to me. During my last doctors appointment it was mentioned that I was in the older group of patients.
Enjoy it all now, in another ten years or so it will all start turning to crap.
It's 55 that get's yah them senior discount goodies, and free coffee with breakfast in the morning
You didn't believe me.........LOL.
Nice to see you've spent the years learning some of the good stuff. The best to you today, and for many days and years to come.
[insert cool Steve Vai riff here]
Happy Birthday to a young guy who contributes so much to this forum! Life now begins at 50, not 40!
LOL.......well, she's right. Hate to tell ya.
:)
Oh.....and when you have one at this age??? Shoot, you've "been there, done that", so you really do enjoy them sooooooo much. Wouldn't trade the experience for the world. All of my kids have brought joy to me, and this little guy who 'snuck in' has been SUCH a hoot. Kids do keep you young.
...and you are such a sweetheart. Thank you.
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