Ruth and I spent the week-end with Brady helping him celebrate his fourteenth birthday. He turns fourteen on June 2nd but this past week-end was the best time for the three of us to go on a birthday trip. That’s what we do – take trips. He’s got all the “stuff” he needs, so we’re working on memories.
The first birthday that I actually remember was when I turned thirteen. My birthday is the day before the real Memorial Day – May 30th. Growing up, Memorial Day was a day of family gatherings. Since my birthday fell in line with the national holiday we often had a double celebration.
My thirteenth birthday was one such day. A family friend – a cousin of a cousin really – asked if I felt any different. I wasn’t really sure what she meant, so I asked.
Her words stuck with me. “Does it feel any different to be a teenager?”
I thought for a moment, took a careful assessment of myself, and said, “No”.
If I saw her today, my response wouldn’t be the same. I feel very different today.
The next birthday that I remember I “turned” eighteen. My boss at the grocery store, Perry, threw a surprise party for me. My party ended up being a graduation party too. Six of the guys that I worked with were graduating and the party ended up serving a dual purpose. All the guys gathered thinking that they were surprising me, and the tables were turned on all of us by Perry. (More about that another time.)
The next memorable birthday was my twenty-first. I’ve already written about that, but if you’d like a refresher, I have provided a link below.
I had a difficult time with my age when I turned thirty-six. I was closer to forty than I was to thirty and the thought of getting older was something that I had a tough time getting used to. “Turning forty” seemed old to me. I struggled with my age for a whole year.
Ten years later, when I “turned forty-six” I didn’t want to go through another tough year thinking that I was closer to fifty than forty, so I told everyone that I was forty-seven. When I actually turned forty-seven I felt like I picked up a free year. I know it sounds crazy but that’s what I thought.
By the time I turned fifty-six, I was just happy to be “turning”. That’s still true today.
I doubled up on my original thirty-six today. I wasted several brain cells worrying about that monumental birthday thirty-six years ago. It really doesn’t pay to be concerned about getting older. We should just enjoy the ride.
In fact, just to prove that turning forty wasn’t so bad, Ruth took me on a surprise trip. She made arrangements with some friends to care for the kids and we took off on a short over night trip to Atlantic City. She proved to me that turning forty wasn’t so bad after all, and we all have surprises to look forward to.
That’s the last actual birthday celebration that I recall.
I had a heart to heart conversation with my mom the day she “turned” eighty-eight. Out of the blue she offered, “I think I will make it to ninety.”
“I’m sure you will. Grandpa Barner lived to be over ninety so you should too. I’ll make you a deal. If you live longer than Grandpa, I’ll live longer than you.”
She said, “OK”. And the deal was made.
She held up her end of the bargain. She outlived her dad by over two years and lived to be ninety-three years, nine months and two days.
My personal goal is March 3, 2041. If I make it, I will have held up my end of the deal too. And most of all, I want to be able to do all of the things that my working on 102 friend, Ed, does. (We all have to have goals.)
Bobby Unser, Paul Newman, and Me
Hope you had a happy birthday now that you “turned” 72. I’m wondering about your March 3rd target date. That is Rick’s birthday so when you come to his party in 2041 we can all celebrate his birthday and you reaching your goal. Just please save any emergencies until after the party.