Tonight I will attend the third different 50th
birthday party for a good friend of mine in just about a year. These are not
only friends, but also “peers.” Yes, I am faced with the reality that some of my
peers are starting to hit the half century mark, which makes it crystal clear
that the big 5-0 is starting to come into view for me, too. Granted, I am still
one year, two months and 17 days away from that daunting number, but its place
on the horizon is definitely in my sights.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that 50 is old (despite the fact that AARP membership starts at age 50, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, considering I know literally no one who has managed to retire at that age), but there is something about that number, when it comes to age, that carries a higher level of seriousness with it. There is no question that by age 50 you are supposed to be an adult, but considering that a couple months shy of 49, I’m not quite there yet, I think I have my work cut out for me.
The good news is, I have already accomplished some of the things that are expected by age 50, like taking daily blood pressure medication, having toenail fungus, and sporting more white hair than black. (Actually that last one I accomplished by age 40, ‘cause I’m a go-getter!) On the flipside, there are still a wide variety of things one would expect someone to have accomplished by age 50 that I have yet to get to, including: maintaining a diverse portfolio of long term investments to ensure my post-retirement financial stability, learning how to poach an egg, and seeing the movie Shane. Hopefully, over the next year or so, I will at least get to Shane and the egg.
Fortunately, the intimidation factor of 50 is diminished a bit when I think about the party I am going to tonight. It is for a friend who is one of the most youthful, fun-loving, and silly people that I know; “old” is probably the last word I would use to describe her. She reminds me of the fact that 50 is really just an arbitrary number and approaching it should not make me feel old.
No, the thing that makes me feel old is that a longtime friend became a grandfather last week and he is one month YOUNGER than me! Yup, one of my high school buddies is now a grand pappy. Quick, someone get me a shawl and a walker!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that 50 is old (despite the fact that AARP membership starts at age 50, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, considering I know literally no one who has managed to retire at that age), but there is something about that number, when it comes to age, that carries a higher level of seriousness with it. There is no question that by age 50 you are supposed to be an adult, but considering that a couple months shy of 49, I’m not quite there yet, I think I have my work cut out for me.
The good news is, I have already accomplished some of the things that are expected by age 50, like taking daily blood pressure medication, having toenail fungus, and sporting more white hair than black. (Actually that last one I accomplished by age 40, ‘cause I’m a go-getter!) On the flipside, there are still a wide variety of things one would expect someone to have accomplished by age 50 that I have yet to get to, including: maintaining a diverse portfolio of long term investments to ensure my post-retirement financial stability, learning how to poach an egg, and seeing the movie Shane. Hopefully, over the next year or so, I will at least get to Shane and the egg.
Fortunately, the intimidation factor of 50 is diminished a bit when I think about the party I am going to tonight. It is for a friend who is one of the most youthful, fun-loving, and silly people that I know; “old” is probably the last word I would use to describe her. She reminds me of the fact that 50 is really just an arbitrary number and approaching it should not make me feel old.
No, the thing that makes me feel old is that a longtime friend became a grandfather last week and he is one month YOUNGER than me! Yup, one of my high school buddies is now a grand pappy. Quick, someone get me a shawl and a walker!
