Musings on my 80th birthday. In the early 1950's there was a tv show, "Life Begins At 80."

[3Hotdogs]

And there were four old folks who would answer questions and make comments about life, the country, the world. These comments were insightful and with humor. God knows what their home lives were like, but on set, they were in suits, were having fun but were more like museum pieces to be studied. "Aren't they cute?"

I didn't want to be like that when I grew old. So it was about 15 years ago, I resolved to never put on a suit or tie again. For any reason, for anybody. Now, if the undertaker puts one on me.... well, that's a different story. I ain't got no control over that.

So what about me turning 80?

Start off with, I am in pretty good health. Wednesday's hike with the club was 5 miles and a 1,300 ft gain in elevation. I was at the nd of the line of hikers, but I made it and I intend to complete many more. I have a few aches and pains and sometimes, feel stiff, getting out of the car or out of bed in the morning. I have treated, high blood pressure, an aneurism that is monitored and a couple of cysts in my lungs and liver that don't seem to cause any concern on the part of my physicians.

To me, the remarkable thing.... I have never had a sick day in my life. I pissed off my teachers by never missing a day of school and I never missed a day of work. But I can't take credit for that. It is because of my genes which I have had no control over. Many of my family members lived or are still alive in their 90's.

I expect to live in to my 100's. But that presents another problem. I will likely survive many of my loved ones. That depresses the shit out of me. I will live into my 100's but what will be the quality of that life?

In younger days, I worried about if I would have enough money. I do. I am not wealthy, but I have a defined benefit pension and there is money left over at the end of the month. I am ok in that area. But I feel badly, reading about posters on D.U. who are in bad economic straits. I always contribute to G.F.Me posts. That is not to brag, it ain't much that I contribute. It's just that I am grateful for my life as it is.

My kids and grandkids give me pleasure. tomorrow, we are going to the Statue of Liberty along with a couple of other trips this week because school is out for the week.

Sex. God, I miss it. I had a lot of sexual experiences during the 70's and 80's .... before herpes and Aids. I was hot then and I know the market for 80 year old men is not too hot these days. So I put that out of my mind. But as I have posted before, the "Little Soldier" still comes to attention when needed.

Then I think about summing up my life. I guess we all want to make a mark on the world... let the world know we were here. And like all of us, I have done a couple of things of which I am really proud. And I spend a lot of time thinking of the assholic things I did during my life. I can't bring 'em back and change 'em but I dwell on those things... maybe too much.

Well, that's all I got for now.

You?

Post script. I also worry about how my grandkids will fare in the world to come. A couple of them will be ok. Others are having some problems in life and I worry about them. -- just thought I''d bring that up.

[Deuxcents]

1. Happy birthday on your special milestone 🎂

I’m just a few years younger but I, too, think about some of the things you’ve mentioned. You sound like you’re healthy n have family nearby n are independent. Sounds like you just may make it to 100 but like you said, a quality of life .. at any age. Would make getting older much more worth it. I wish you continued good health n happiness and keep looking forward .. don’t waste time thinking about the past.. keep your positive attitude as it will serve you well . Congratulations!

[3Hotdogs]

13. Thank you.

[murielm99]

2. Happy birthday.

Your post on turning 80 is wonderful!

[3Hotdogs]

14. Thank you. On my weekend posts, I try to give

Readers something to think about and hope it makes people’s lives a little bit better.

[TuxedoKat]

3. Well Happy Birthday then

I wish you a lovely birthday and many more. I’m glad you are enjoying life. That’s a blessing at any age.

[KS Toronado]

4. Great Musings, glad your doing better than my ex mother-in-law.

[3Hotdogs]

15. She looks hot.

Is she datable?

[KS Toronado]

18. Give her a call, 1-800-broom stick

[orleans]

5. hope you had a nice day

[moniss]

6. I know

the feeling. Sometimes we forget just how much has changed around us that is not "visible" and apparent. I happened to watch a video of a guy reacting to hearing for the first time Joe Cocker at Woodstock. The guy looked to be in his 20's or so. First of all he said the show was at "some place called Woodstock or something". He liked the video and also said that it looked like a lot of people at the concert and so it probably "sold out". He might even think this was just a Joe Cocker concert. No frame of reference. The same kind of thing happens if you talk about beat poetry/music/beatniks. Over half the population thinks Dr. Dre when we say that. No frame of reference about Vietnam, the Draft, open housing fights, freedom riders, J. Edgar, getting kicked out of school for long hair and all the rest. Kent State to them is just a small college in Ohio. Look how many today holler free speech but know nothing of Berkeley. House Un-American Activities Committee is nothing to them. Much of what I've said is perhaps just a generational passing sort of thing but the last 75 years have been about fighting for social change and improvement and if over half the country is more or less ignorant of the major things we went through and events of the time then we have some of the answers for why voter turnout for the under 40 crowd is tough. There are other reasons as well but I never expected that at my age and after all these years I would have people in their 20's and 30's having to ask "Who is this Bob Dylan guy people are talking about?" Yes I know that many young people are very involved and active etc. but my comments are mainly about how such major events of a generation can be so unknown to the next.

[Walleye]

7. And they have no idea what women and girls have gone through to get them where they are

Remember girls getting kicked out of school for wearing pants? Remember being told you would never be an airline pilot. Remember when getting pregnant was a death sentence. Oh wait that’s now

[appalachiablue]

9. In HS even 'maxi coats' would draw the principal's wrath. Kids need to know how it was then.

[3Hotdogs]

20. See my post, below.

[moniss]

11. You are so right

and I've commented before about people needing to remember girls being humiliated in front of their classmates when teachers and principals would make a big deal about their skirt being shorter than "allowed". This is where the GQP wants to take us back to..

[3Hotdogs]

21. See my post, below and thank you for your comment.

[3Hotdogs]

19. I guess it was about 20 years ago, that I began to

think about that girls/ women had hopes,

fears and challenges of getting through live like I do. I try to listen to other people without judgement and recognize we are all going through it, but differently.

[3Hotdogs]

16. That is a deficit with today's education.

Too much history in the allowed, four years.


And we look at events like Woodstock, the three assignations in the 60’s. These were events that shaped our lives.

And..,
I can imagine my grandparents, wondering why we didn’t know about the battleship Maine. We were supposed to remember that throughout our history.

Or the Red Scare of the ‘20’s… the 1920’s, not 2020’s.

[appalachiablue]

10. Nice post, keep up your positive activities & congratulations! You're a good egg, Hotdogs.

🥂

[3Hotdogs]

17. Thanks. I try to give people things to think about.

And hope it enriches lives.

[JudyM]

12. The "market" for 80 year old men is far better than for 80 year old women,

so don’t give up hope… many, many women in your age group would be delighted to find you, especially as socially aware as you are (not to mention great health, apparently!)

Wishing you more joy than you expect this year. Happy birthday.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. I'm only 74, likewise in excellent health.

Two of my five siblings (I'm one of six) have died. I have two brothers, both in less than wonderful health, and a sister left. Sis and I will probably outlive the brothers, and at some point only one of us will be left. That will be weird.

Meanwhile, not that you need any advice from me, do make friends with younger people. I've been reasonably good at that, and hope to continue.

[3Hotdogs]

23. Reminds me of, when I was maybe 15 or 16. There were three brothers that lived a block from me.

They mostly kept to themselves. Seldom went out of the house. I don't recall ever talking to any of the three.

Then one died.

The day after the funeral, somebody knocked on the door. No answer. Police called.

The two remaining brothers were dead, embracing each other.

That's what I am wondering.. who will I outlive?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. That is a rather sad story.

Although perhaps the brothers were glad to more or less all go at the same time.

I honestly expect I'll be the last one alive. No guarantees, of course.

My very best friend in the whole world is a man who is 11 months older than I am. His health is currently quite good, so he probably has a decade or so more. Eventually, one of us will go on to whatever else there is. If he goes first I know I will spend the rest of my life missing him.

I personally have a very strong belief in an afterlife, and trust me, I'm not about to try to convince you to believe the same. But for me, it provides a solace and a comfort.