Well, it happened. I wasn’t watching closely enough and it crept up on me. January 18th 2021 Martin Luthor King Day, Blue Monday, Thesaurus Day, and not to forget Winnie the Pooh Day. It was also the day no-one would let me forget that I reached my biblical Three Score and Ten.
As one of my son-in-law’s sisters was kind enough to point out on video, It’s amazing I’ve reached so great an age. I’m trying hard to imagine that she meant I’ve become an elder statesman with the wisdom of the ages settled nicely on my shoulders so that I appear well balanced.
On the other hand knowing that I stayed up all night answering emails, Texts and messages from any of my Linkedin groups my daughter thinks I’ve lost the last vestiges of my common sense. It was a case of should I be allowed to live alone any more or would they come to take me away.
My brother-in-law suggests I should apply for a Thai Bride to rejuvenate me. When daylight broke I clicked on video my daughter had caused to be made and cried like a 7 year old rather than a 69 years and 365 days old adult as family and friends paraded before me with a series of delightful messages reminding me how old I am, interspersed with photographs of me with my grandchildren from birth onwards and pictures of my beautiful wife who never got to meet them. I can promise those of you with shares in a tissue factory that you’ll be getting a big bonus this year.
I wandered through to the lounge my arm going numb from the continuous vibrating of my phone. No messages, I just like the sensation. Joey was awake enough for me not to disturb him as I opened my gifts but he reminded me to open he cage door first. It’s not that he comes out very often but he does like the option of being able to tug at my hair as he flies past. When Mike stays here it’s usually him gets the flight path engraved on his head. All I hear is, Ouch, you little B****. In the furthest chair from the cage I can generally sit quite happy that mayhem ensues elsewhere.
This is not Joey but one of his brighter cousins. Joey is a sullen, brooding monster who sits in his cage eating the honey seed bells we get especially for him, plotting his revenge on mankind for imagined insults.
Anyway, back to the present opening. My brother-in-law had impressed on me just how carefully I was to open my gift from him and my wife’s sister. Taking off the outer layer I was faced with a small gift that felt light but which he’d led me to believe was a blow up doll, even I had worked out it wasn’t Thai bride. The tape said Fragile and was protecting the contents with a grip that even my scissors struggled with. I did get inside eventually and the floor looked like I’d just held a wedding .Inside were six coins, three of which carried the Welsh dragon and three of which he later assured me were real gambling silver dollars from the old Mississippi riverboats. One side carries the American Dollar value and the other side….naked ladies. I blushed. I couldn’t fid the blow up doll though so he must have forgotten to put it in. Still, I’m too old to play with dolls.
So, I have a big question. Am I the Elder Statesman, the eldest of my generation in the family, or am I finally at the age where I can be a little mischievous but carry an air of innocence about me? I’m going back to wearing my waistcoats to lend a air of dignity though the fluorescence of some might lend itself more to rakishness. Mind you, is that so bad? Maybe at 70 I’m in a different world from anyone else.
Peace, Much Love and Virtual Hugs to you all.
David