Over a decade ago I can remember celebrating my sixtieth birthday. I remember posting on my previous blog about the Beatles song, “When I’m 64”. Paul McCartney wrote that song when he was 16. When I was sixteen, the thought of turning 64 never crossed my mind. It’s not that I didn’t expect to live that long, it’s just that we were more worried about tomorrow than five decades into the future. I mean, even my parents weren’t 64 in 1964. But five decades later and a few months after celebrating my sixtieth birthday I pondered a few of these thoughts.
I have noticed a few things have changed over the years. Remember as a child you could sit in the floor with your legs crossed and come to a standing position without uncrossing your legs. At 60, that doesn’t even sound like a good idea.
In your 30’s you enjoyed getting outside and mowing the yard. At 60, you take two ibuprofen before mowing and two after mowing just to control the swelling in the joints. If you can afford it, you’ve already bought the riding mower.
In your 40’s you still spent one Saturday a month washing, waxing, and detailing your favorite ride. At 60, you’re thankful for the drive-thru car wash with the auto applied wax.
In your 50’s you were at the top of your profession and enjoyed going to work everyday. At 60, your still at the top, but if you’re in management, it’s starting to look a lot like adult daycare and retirement can’t come soon enough.
Don’t get me wrong 60 is a great age. You have a much better perspective of the world around you. You’re not too excited about the Democrats or the Republicans because in the end, they’re all just a bunch of politicians trying to get elected or re-elected. You realize that life is too short to always be in a crisis management mode. Slow down, enjoy the time with family and friends. I was a “child of the sixties”, now I’m going to enjoy the sixties again.
Now that I am north of seventy and several years into retirement, my statement about politicians rings truer than ever. So does my view of spending time with the ones you love, friends and family. That’s why most of my photography is dedicated to family events. A hundred years from now no one will care about my photos of birds, automobiles, motorcycles, and flowers. What they will enjoy are those images that capture the family in this day and age. And now, for a little music.
The theme for this week’s Monday’s Music Moves Me is “Songs about being a grandparent or growing old.” What better song to start with than “When I’m 64”
The song that best speaks about growing old together and answers the question posed in the Beatles tune comes from the country charts and Randy Travis. When you marry your true love and you do life together the way God intended, the answer is, I will love you forever and ever…amen. My wife and I are at forty-four years and counting. I think this marriage is gonna last.
Driller's Place 
So very true. I was agreeing with you all through this post. Thanks for making me smile.
Have a Awe…some Monday, my friend. 🙂
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It’s funny how, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Have a blessed week.
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A couple of good ones here!
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Thank you sir. Have a blessed week.
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Good thoughts and good music. Hope you have a great week!
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It’s going to be a busy week, but that’s good. Have a wonderful week yourself.
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Driller,
Changes, as we grow older, are often hard ones. The first two sign of age I noticed is in my hands and eyes. I can’t grip jars to open like before and I need reading lens correction. I’m glad I can get progressive eyewear over bifocals. I’m so happy to read that you share life with the one you love doing it the way God wants it. Next June, God willing, we’ll celebrate our 40th anniversary. I understand your alls commitment as DH & I are also deeply committed to one another. Your life, as well as mine, has been richly blessed and I feel as long as I’m sharing it with the person I love the most then growing older isn’t a bad thing. Thanks for hitting the dance floor with the 4M gang, my friend. Have a pAwesome week!
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The eyes were certainly the first things that needed correction. And yes, doing life with the love of your life is just the best.
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Nice post and so true time just flies by I always say to younger people who mention about age it will come quicker than you think heheh!
I enjoyed the music I remember buying that Beatles album it brought back some memories 🙂
Have a youngtastic week 🙂
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And I tell new grandparents, “If you thought your kids grew up fast, just watch how fast your grand kids lives fly by.”
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Wonderful thoughts and great songs. Thanks for sharing both. Very cool.
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Glad you found the post and music to your liking.
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Your ideas are spot on with mine! I’m in my early 50’s but some days I feel much older and can relate! Nice choice of songs.
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Each decade has it’s own set of challenges for sure.
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Well, I’m a young-ish 65, married for 44 years, and happy to meet a kindred soul. I’m still laughing at management being like adult day care, maybe that’s why I stepped away from management (still working for the same company) seven years ago. Life is just too short and I have lost friends along the way. I realize what a privilege aging is, especially when your loved one is still by your side. You picked two great songs.
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I retired at 66 and have no regrets. I miss some of the creative people that I worked with, but I don’t miss the schedules, deadlines, and travel.
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Congratulations on a successful career and, even better, marriage. My oldest brother has called it quits after more than thirty-five years. Makes me sad. Meanwhile, my husband and I have been together 29 years. Hard to believe I’ll be 50 next year!
I really like your thoughts here. I’ve never enjoyed mowing the lawn but used to detail my Chevy Malibu every month several years ago. ~grin~ I cannot even fathom *ever* standing from a cross legged position without straightening my legs. Heh… How does that even work? ~shakes head~ Be well!
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The crossed leg thing works best if you’re under 12 years old.
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Nice introspective post. You can’t go wrong with the Beatles. They were so wise. TW is 64 now and wouldn’t even think of sitting cross-legged while Pop does it all the time.
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Sitting crossed legged is easy. Getting to a standing position without uncrossing them was the challenge. A challenge that I have not done successfully in decades.
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A classic post!! This is great. You at the point where you concern yourself with what really matters. I am 63 and I am not sure that I will ever get there. You are a blessed Man!!
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You’re married to the one you love and your family is most important to you. You are blessed and well on your way to a golden retirement.
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So true! I am in the 40’s stage, but as a child, we didn’t think we would make it to our 30’s because of the threat of nuclear attack. I am poping that ibuprofen already, but I have a service that comes do our lawn. Have a wonderful day.
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