I seems like only yesterday, that I was able to spring out of bed like a young gazelle an immediately begin my day. It seems like just yesterday when I would address all old people over the age of 30 Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms. It seems like only yesterday, when I would help OLDER people with their chores just for being nice to them. Here it is, just yesterday when the doorbell rang and I scrambled to get out of my chair, make it to the door before the third time the bell sounded to find a very nice looking young man. He introduced himself as Reginald, working in the area putting a new roof on my neighbors house and wanting to tell me that there will be some noise and possibly dust that could sneak over my fence, but that will be taken care of by his crew. Such a nice gesture . He also told me that while he was up on their roof he noticed that there could possibly be some problems with my roof and that he would be able to look at it free of charge. What me turn down "FREE". Sure Reginald you can take a look. While he was getting his ladder, I was fumbling through my warranty file since it seems that I recalled having a 20 year guarantee roof against everything. I happened to locate that paper while Reggie was walking around inspecting my roof. After the FREE 15 minute inspection over a double roof area of 2600 sq ' Reggie climb down from his ladder and broke the bad news to me that he felt I needed a new roof BUT because I was a senior citizen and he was already working in the area he could give me a special price..........................of.........................$8000. Gee, what a nice guy....until that moment I showed him my 20 year guarantee issued 5 years ago on the completion of my new roof. Not many words were spoken after that.
Now I mention this for two reasons:
1- I hear so much from the political talk now-a-days about leaving our children in a better world. Is this the better world they are telling us about? Take advantage of your fellow man?
2- Am I really getting to the back nine.
It was at that very moment, I came to the point of reality, that growing up, anyone over the age of 30 was old. When I reached that plateau anyone over the age of 50 was old. When I joined the "over the hill gang " at 50 anyone over the age of 60 was old, at 60 I was determined not to become old at 70 and when reaching 70 I thought I heard a voice calling me, faintly echoing 75 but here I am reaching that level of 80, planning a party and taking my whole family on it to a fun place. Ready to zip-line, power sail, sea-doing and doing it with people 1/4, 1/2 my age. Will I last? who knows, will I enjoy it....who knows? There's always the TV to fall back on, and also the young wife four years my junior to hold me back ..............or up, whichever needs to be done.
When I look back...........it all seems to come back. Sure, there are a lot of things I did, a lot of things I wish I had done and a lot of things I did that I wish I had done differently but the difference is very little and time gets shorter with the passing of each day. I'm sure my kids will survive as I did and their kids will survive as they are. Besides the younger generation seem to want something else very different from what I wanted or want to leave them. They don't want or need my old car or my big house or any of the mass amount of (what I consider valuable) things I have collected in my life. They have even gone to the extent of telling me to enjoy the rest of my money. They call it the piggy bank. They will survive regardless if it is as a Republican or a Democrat. So what's left to leave them.......................only words, passed on down from my parents. Treat people as you wish to be treated. do the things you have fun doing, never go to bed angry and do things the best that you can. You will not be able to satisfy everyone..........just try to satisfy the ones that mean the most to you. Live with the memories of the past that bring you happiness, laugh loud belly laughs.
Live..................like there will be a tomorrow............................and another blog posting from Vito
