Snuck Up Upon

I’m going to rail against something that’s been brothering me for a few years now. I spent my entire Army career training not to be surprised by unseen foes. Understandably, they took that very seriously. Especially in the infantry where basic recruits are drilled on not letting anybody sneak up on you and it becomes second nature to those more seasoned. That’s why I’m more than a little angry at myself. I’ve violated this cardinal rule of a career infantryman. I’m old. Age is fairly insidious as I was happily bouncing along thinking of myself as middle aged, until my Cantankerous Friend (older than me by the way) called me out and reminded me that I was, in fact, a senior citizen.

I feel like the Patrick Wilson character from Insidious. I’ve had this demon lurking behind me while I blissfully, if less spryly, navigate through life. I should have known better. It seemed almost sudden that getting up from the floor after playing with the granddaughters was increasingly difficult (honestly, having grandchildren should have been my first clue). The body certainly has been sending me messages: two bouts with cancer, a knee that doesn’t let me run any more, and a balky foot. I thought I was fine, even if I have to lean against something to put my pants on. I’m not going to say it’s unfair because I’ve had a good run at it, more fun and luck than is perfectly legal.

Age Lurking Behind Me

I’m also not going to acquiesce to my advanced years. I’m going to keep boogie boarding, pub crawling, dancing, partying, and hiking in the woods with the granddaughters as long as they’ll have me. If I’ve learned anything in my now acknowledged many years, it is, since we only get this one life, you’ve got to enjoy it as long as possible. I may not be as dignified as I am expected to be for someone almost 70 years old, but dignity should be defined by yourself, not some societal expectation.

So, I’ll continue to travel, even if planning will involve locating convenient bathrooms along the way. In other words, while I acknowledge that certain aspects of getting old can’t be ignored (see last sentence), I’m having too much fun to worry about it. Luckily, I’m surrounded by friends and family who think likewise. This isn’t a new concept for me, I guess. All those years ago I named this blog after a passage from my favorite poem (excerpt below). I’m going to continue to rage.

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Two movies fell in the A-Z watch, both keepers: The Prophecy – hasn’t aged well but, c’mon, Christopher Walken as an evil angel and Aragorn as the devil!; The Protégé – completely awesome action flick with the completely awesome Maggie Q

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course