Ed 101

My first official blog was about my friend, Ed.  I had written a couple of “pages” but those were merely “tests” to see if my blog worked.  I posted “Ed” on November 19, 2017 in honor of Ed’s 100th birthday.  If you haven’t read it, you should.   It will provide you with some background about my “oldest” friend.   He turns 101 tomorrow.

Ed’s 101st year was eventful.  He decided to retire.   I’m sure that it was a difficult decision, however, after his son, Craig, had a health scare, Ed decided that he should start enjoying life and spend more time playing.  When I returned from Florida last spring, Ed told me that he had sold his equipment and was “retiring”.

Ed formally retired from his manufacturing job in 1984.  I expect that he started drawing his social security around that same time.  He has been making parts in his garage for area manufacturing companies  for the past thirty-five years.  This was a side job that he developed himself.  He didn’t create a huge income, but that wasn’t the point.  He wanted to be productive and have skin in the game. He made enough to buy a few beers, pay for his golf, travel,  and cover his poker losses.

I’ve never asked Ed about his secret to living a long life,  but based on what I’ve learned over the last eleven years of our friendship,  I expect that he would offer up a list similar to this.

1. Love.   Share your time on earth.  You don’t have to marry as Ed did, but have someone to share your time, encourage your goals, listen to your thoughts, and set you straight when you veer off path.
2. Take care of yourself.  Value your health.  Avoid excess.
3. Believe in something bigger than yourself.  Be religious if that’s a path  you choose, but in any case, make sure that you know that there is something more important than each of us, alone.
4. Work.  Be engaged in something that helps you find purpose.  If your first choice doesn’t work out, find another.  Each of us needs to have a reason to get up each morning.  Make sure that you have something to look forward to doing each day.
5. Hang with people younger than you at least some of the time.  (Ed does this everyday.)   Share your experience.  Don’t be afraid to share your failures as well as your triumphs.
6. Laugh.   Belly laughs are preferred.
7. Belong.  Be an active part of a community.  It may be church, your neighbors, people at work, your school,  a team,  a club or your family.   Each of us needs to engage with others that share a common bond.
8. Play.  Poker and golf are Ed’s go to games.  Have fun and share your experience  with others.
9. Sing and dance even if you only sing in the shower and tap your foot to music while sitting in a chair.  It’s good for the soul.
10. Don’t keep score.  If someone does you wrong, move on.  Be the bigger man (or woman).  You’ll waste a lot of time that you could be loving, caring, believing, working, hanging, laughing, belonging, playing, singing and dancing.

I’m sure that I’ve left things off of Ed’s list, but at least you have a couple of ideas to ponder.  I expect that Ed will read this and share his opinion with me.   I’ll provide you with a comprehensive update when I write Ed 102 this time next year.