Rhino Ramblings

I am a bit concerned that this blog is becoming numbers heavy.  But how could I call this a personal blog and not comment on the Big Birthday number I just passed on Friday (9/2/22) – 65.  How did that number ever get reached?  When retelling an incident involving people in their 60’s, I refer to them as those old people –I am not one of them, am I?  They’re old and doing old stuff that is likely a reason I felt the story was worth retelling.  I mean can you believe how long it takes old people to get up off the sofa; or how they can never remember where their keys/phone/glasses are; or are constantly talking about their health (does anyone really care about you wrist surgery that you have to share constantly?); or play golf with a college sophomore who eagles a hole and then marvel at these young-uns?.  Oh, wait, I guess that is me.  65.  The age of Medicare choices and constant question of “when are you going to retire” (for the record I am expecting to make it to 70 – for a number of good reasons). One year past “When I’m 64” (I was 10 when that Beatle classic first hit the airwaves and I certainly thought 64 was a ridiculously old age).  For now I cannot say that I am obsessed with mortality and perhaps that is partly because my Mom made it 30 years past 65 and I hope I can be so lucky.  65 – a golf score (about 7 under par) I can only dream of and hope to never double again (there was a time in my restart of golfing that 120-130 was a goal). 65 – a nice fast speed limit that just seems to beg you to go a little more than cuz 65 can seem so slow.  Google tells us 65 “is a powerful number often presented as a wake-up call to those who encounter it”. But this is the type of bunk numerology that I can quickly discard as having no meaning at all.  Much more meaningful – while AARP got me some discounts and a few places (including some local golf courses) and 60 is the age of a few senior discounts – 65 is clearly the winning demarcation line for those all-important benefits.  But I am still not ready for senior living or early-bird specials.   I did take advantage of my birthday and mentioned it to my waitress at dinner and got a free dessert and glass of champagne – and most fortunately – no singing or other public display for all to see and hear that I was getting that much older.  Switching from numbers to the birthday itself …  This was likely the most celebrated and active birthday (especially if the entire weekend Is included) that I have ever had in my life – thanks to the friends and family who made it so.  Started with a golf cart festooned with balloons and streamers.  Round of golf ( with the afore-mentioned college student who was foisted upon our trio and turned out to be a real nice guy ).  Then off to select new eye-glasses (not age-related, just had not been to the eye doctor since the before-times); drop Midas off for a weekend at doggie day care (where he apparently fell head over heels for a female golden – a video showed him pushing his butt into her face – so romantic); then a real nice pork chop dinner at Seasons 52.  Followed the next day with a trip to Reading to work with my sisters and my children to make major strides in organizing my Mom’s house; then we had a nice birthday party.  Sunday was breakfast with my son, daughter-in-law and grandson (Kevin) then drive back home so Sunday evening I could go with 2 friends to a Sting concert.  And end the whirlwind weekend with a drive to the Eastern Shore to watch Kevin for a few hours.  Phew!  Take that all you old 60-year olds I see every day who seem like they are so much older than me – at least until I am reminded of the aches and pains and slowness and medical worries and all of that.  I cannot choose to not be 65.  I do not see a need to pretend I am not what I am.  But I will celebrate for myself my good fortune to have reached this milestone in relatively good form and with so many riches in family, friends, work (I truly have an amazing job), house and other possessions; health and enjoyable activities and of course my Midas.  A joyful time and I thank all who have been so positive an influence in my life.  Now it is time for hopefully the next third or so.  Onward Ho!