As I sit in my easy chair and watch my usual Sunday football; and realize that my 60th Birthday is about a month a way…… I remember something my Dad gave me some years ago. At that time, it really didn’t affect me as it did today as I read it again.
“Growing old”
Dear young people,
Here are a few things you should know about getting older:
One day you will get old. It doesn’t seem like it at the moment, but you will. Trust me, one day you will look at people who are only twice your age now, and think of them as “old”. You will be that old one day.
One day, you’ll wake up and your body will hurt. And you’ll wake up the next day and it will hurt again. You’ll consider buying a new bed and wonder if you’re getting old. You’ll buy a new bed and confirm the suspicion.
One day, you’ll find yourself watching people that are your age now, and wishing you could go back. Only you’d go back armed with the arsenal of knowledge you have at this “older” age. Only that’s not possible, so please read on.
One day, your grandparents will die. Sure, they might be young a strong and decades away from the grim reality of life, but I’m telling you (and trust me, this will be hard) they will one day pass away. You will be crushed when they do. You’ll hate yourself for not spending enough time with them. You’ll think of all the messages they left you and texts they sent you that you didn’t respond to. You were so busy being young you just didn’t have time. There’s no need to beat yourself up. But, before they’re gone, call them back.
One day, you’ll shop around for car insurance because you’re convinced you’re getting ripped off by whatever company you currently have. Oh, and before that, one day, your parents will stop paying for your car insurance.
One day, you’ll say, “oh wow, I just did something old people do.” You’ll say this after you put just a tiny bit of water in the spaghetti sauce jar, just to make sure you got it all.
One day, you’ll go out with friends and stay out until 2am, and you will literally die the next day. Ok, you won’t die, but you’ll feel like you did. You’ll still be feeling it Monday morning. You’ll want to call in sick, but don’t. I promise, this is a part of growing up and (yuck) getting older.
One day you’ll watch the Grammys and have NO CLUE who anybody is. Same goes for the Oscars and the EMMYS. And you’ll feel old then.
One day, you’ll leave the house wearing jeans that are WAY too short, and not care.
One day, you’ll get it. LOL. That’s just a lie I threw in there to keep you on your toes. One day you’ll THINK you get it… but just wait a week, you’ll realize you didn’t. A year later? You’ll realize you really didn’t.
One day, hopefully, you’ll realize that getting “old” isn’t quite as bad as old people sometimes make it out to be. You’ll realize one day, that this is the only life you have. As sure as it began, it will end. You can live it like it’s your only life, or you can meander about, like it’s some kind of dress rehearsal.
One day, you’ll want to tell young people to stop. Stop and smell things. Stop and smile at people. You’ll want to tell young people, that the terrible pains and struggles that come with youth, get better with time. They really do. Trust me, if you’re dealing with an impossible struggle right now… you won’t be in a week.
One day, you’ll be driving down the road and just start laughing, simply because you love this life. Every single second of it. Don’t waste a single one of those seconds.
You’ll miss them when you get really, really, old!!!!
Momentary Lapse Of Sanity 