Tag Archives: aging

It’s My Birthday!

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Today is my birthday. In recent years, this has been a fun day where I have traveled and adventured. Today will not be an adventure day. It’s a good old fashioned work day and I’m ok with that. I like my job and am increasingly grateful for it.

How old am I? Well, I’m at an age that I had to stop and figure it out. Since math isn’t my strong suit, I actually pulled up the calculator on my phone because I didn’t trust my mathing skills.

Remember when you were a kid and you had a countdown till your birthday for months ahead of time? You were ever prepared with gift ideas and you always knew your precise age. Six-and-a-half or nine-and-three-quarters.

I have known some older folks who reverted back to that kind of age-keeping. It seems to come back in style once people hit their nineties so that suddenly they’re almost 93 or they just turned 95.

And that’s a good thing. We aren’t guaranteed a long life and aging is a gift not given to everyone. I know plenty of people who weren’t blessed with long years so aging and birthdays should be celebrated.

Those wrinkles, that dry skin, and the veins that are showing on your hands are all trophies and proof of what it has taken to stay on this earth.

I like to spend some time leading up to every birthday taking stock. Am I happy? What can I do better or differently? What needs attention? It’s a little like New Years for me – a great time to assess and set some new goals.

This hasn’t been the easiest year. I still struggle to get some health issues under control and have adventured less than normal. There have been some good things though and some lessons learned.

One of my goals lately has been to soften my life. I am looking for ways to bring peace and comfort into my home and routines. The world is an increasingly harsh and scary place. Why wouldn’t I want to make my corner of it as calm and soft as possible?

This is a good place to start on this first day of a new year. It is the first day of the rest of my life. In fact, it’s the first day of the rest of your life too. Maybe you need to take stock as well.

You’re still wondering about my age?

48.

Have a good day, friends. It’s my birthday! Go celebrate with some ice cream!

PS- today’s image is at Huntington Reservation, Cleveland. That’s Lake Erie and in the moment I snapped this picture, I was completely at peace.

A Classic Car And Classic Advice

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We arrived in Pomeroy more than two hours early for the soldier’s funeral procession Saturday. Parking can be tight in this town on a good day and we thought it prudent to park close and kill time.

I wandered around the downtown area, logging some steps and nabbing a few pictures. I found this old cruiser parked at the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. There was a deputy on the sidewalk, approaching a newer cruiser when I inquired about the car.

The deputy was kind, telling me that the car belongs to the longest serving law enforcement officer in Ohio. He collects all sorts of things including this 1947 Ford which he brings out for parades and other special occasions.

I googled the gentleman yesterday and found that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost had recognized Deputy Howard Mullen as Ohio’s longest serving officer two years ago.

He’s a 1946 Pomeroy High School graduate and former firefighter who has been a Meigs County Sheriffs Deputy since 1953. At the young age 91, Deputy Mullen told a local tv station that he still assists with special assignments and does ride alongs with deputies. He would be about 93 now and I sincerely hope that this is still the case.

My favorite line from that interview was “You die sooner, because you lose interest. You sit all day watching TV and stuff like that, I honestly think you take X amount of years off your life. I just don’t want to slow down anymore.”

These are indeed wise words. I’m a fan of staying active – turn off the tv, read a book, engage in a hobby, go for a walk, do volunteer work- do things that make you feel alive, engaged and interested in your surroundings.

Deputy Mullen, much like his car, is a classic.

In case you’re interested in hearing his interview, you can watch a video here. I stoped the deputy to ask about their cool car and had no idea the conversation would lead to an inspiring life lesson.