On birthdays and growing older…

The fireworks have been for me all along, right?

I celebrated another birthday on July 4^th. Always loved sharing my birthday with America—the fireworks have always been for me—so I decided I’m going to pass into glory on…July 4^th, many years from now.

Hey, stranger things have happened. Like this…the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4^th, 1776, and the two principal members of the committee tasked with drafting the Declaration, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, died on the same day, fifty years later…July 4^th, 1826.

I mean, what were the chances? Here’s what comedian George Burns said about reaching your senior years:

Eighty’s not that far off. There are some advantages to getting older. More time to contemplate life, where you’ve been and where you’re going. More travel, the hip replacement and bum knee notwithstanding. Cruises are looking more inviting than ever before.

Sure…it seems the older I get, the more I’m visited by bodily nuisances. A few days ago, the dermatologist had to burn off some pre-cancerous cells from the ridge of my right ear with liquid nitrogen. Pleasant. I’m still peeling off the dead skin—my ear looks as purple as the hydrangeas blooming in our gardens.

And anymore, I can barely pull my pants up, the arthritis around my right thumb hurts so much. Minor inconveniences. You just barrel through it. I mean, what’s the alternative?

Besides, the upsides outweigh the negatives, at least for me. More time with Karen. And with friends. Naps in the afternoon. Service opportunities in our community and through our church that we couldn’t take advantage of when we were working.

(Oh yeah. Did I mention we’ve enjoyed the blessings of eleven years of retirement together?)

So far, the march from one birthday to the next hasn’t stopped me from doing many things I dreamed about doing, not the least of which is writing. A weekly Substack on American history and culture. Novels, novellas, and short stories.

(Shameless plug: I will release my fourth novel, The Dubious Claims of Oliver Graham, in the first quarter of 2025.)

I like to think that advancing years has rendered me a corresponding advancement in wisdom.

I no longer allow myself to wallow in issues beyond my reach, like far left and far right politics. Karen and I changed our party affiliations to Independent and will vote in the upcoming election. Our opinions and perspectives are ours, and we refuse to name-call or point fingers at those who might disagree. We’ve no time to affix negative labels on folks who likewise do their civic duty, or to buy into doom and gloom predictions from both sides.

The nation will continue on to its 249^th birthday after this November, and I believe cool heads will prevail. Hyperbole abounds these days, yet we’re all likely to see another birthday come and go this year.

It's unfortunate that our culture wastes so much of the collective wisdom of its people when they reach a certain age and are labeled “too old” to offer meaningful contributions to society. “Ageism,” where older adults are stereotyped as being less capable, innovative, or relevant than younger people, is an indictment against common sense.

I’m thinking of our dear friend Carole, just two years behind us as birthdays go. She once amassed a fortune as far as money and status, but through no fault of her own, lost it all about twelve years ago. Now she’s being told she’s too old for the most menial of jobs.

Here’s the thing: Carole possesses extensive experience, wisdom, and skills that can greatly benefit her community. But another birthday takes her further away from the mentorship, leadership, and professional contributions she is so qualified to offer.

Another sad indictment on American life.

For Karen and me, hope and joy and contentment are the prizes bestowed on us for making it to another day. Sure, we have experienced our share of suffering over the last decade, such as the loss of our daughter to our family. Every morning brings a sadness to our souls, which God soothes when we turn it over to Him. But overall, our life of faith fills us with blessings.

So many folks bemoan getting older.

Not me.

Like Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones has said, “Getting old is a fascinating thing. The older you get, the older you want to get.”