Sixty-Seven and Still Under Warranty–I Hope.

Andy Rooney once observed, “It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.”

Well, Andy, I think I’ve figured out why.

I’m 67 now, and I’ve hit that funny stage of life where I spend 45 minutes on the weight machines at the YMCA, walk a couple of miles, and then come home needing a nap because staying young takes so much effort.

I saw something on Facebook recently that summed it up pretty well. “Nobody prepares you for the part of your 60s where you’re simultaneously trying to build muscle, lose fat, protect your knees, eat 150 g of protein, and remember why you walked into the kitchen.” Lord, ain’t that the truth.

I was also a bit caught off guard when I started getting luncheon/seminar invitations from the National Cremation Society.

I’ve lost a lot of weight over the past few years. That’s a pretty good achievement, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, my knees apparently didn’t get the memo. They’re still filing complaints about things I did to them decades ago.

I’ve also learned that getting healthy at 67 means a lot of medical checkups. Luckily, my Primary Care Provider is great and keeps a close watch on me. Now I get why Medicare sends out those thick booklets. They figure people my age have lots of time to read.

Ingrid Bergman supposedly said, “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better.”

I agree about the view, but I do wish the mountain came with an elevator.

I’ve been studying Stoicism, which teaches us to accept what we can’t control. That’s been helpful, especially when it comes to aging, politics, and committees. Marcus Aurelius spent years reminding himself to stay calm around fools. I only need about fifteen minutes on Facebook to realize Marcus never had to deal with Florida or Hillsborough County politics.

I’m still working on being a better Stoic. Epictetus said we should only worry about things we can control. That clearly doesn’t include the Florida Legislature, Donald Trump’s mouth, or the person driving 45 on I275.

I’m working on it.

Church brings its own chances for personal growth. I’m active in my United Methodist congregation, and I’ve learned that while the Lord may work in mysterious ways, church committees prefer a detailed agenda and at least three meetings to talk about it.

Ashley Montagu offered some excellent advice when he said, “The idea is to die young as late as possible.”

I’m doing my best. I’ve picked up new hobbies, gone back to work, joined community projects, and somehow ended up with a schedule that could tire out a 35-year-old. I’m starting to think retirement is for other people.

Truman Capote once described life as “a moderately good play with a badly written third act.”

I’m hoping my third act gets a better writer. The plot has been unpredictable so far, but the supporting cast is fantastic.

I have a great mix of friends, a job I enjoy, and so much going on that I sometimes need my calendar just to know what day it is. I spend time with people who care about their communities, enjoy good music, write about things that interest me, and occasionally irritate a politician or two.

Of course, there have been tough times. I’ve lost people I loved, gone through hard changes, and had a few reminders that the warranty on this old body ran out a while ago.

Between the complaints about sore knees, the occasional medical surprise, and the growing list of things I have to write down to remember, I’ve realized how lucky I am. At 67, I’m healthier than I’ve been in years. I have friends I enjoy, work that keeps my mind active, and a community that gives me plenty of reasons to get up in the morning. Some of those reasons even feel worthwhile at the time.

And I suppose that’s where gratitude comes in. I’ve lived long enough to know that life can change without much warning. Good health, friendship, the chance to do meaningful work, even another ordinary Tuesday are things I’ve learned to value more with each passing year. I still have plenty to complain about, and anyone familiar with my views on Florida politics can attest that I haven’t lost the ability. But I’m increasingly aware of how much I have to be thankful for, and how much of it I might once have taken for granted.

Ella Fitzgerald once said, “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”

I like that. And I particularly like something I wrote myself a while back. 

I still believe that. I’ve got plenty of things left to try, places to go, people to enjoy, and probably a few more meetings to attend.

And if I can remember why I walked into the kitchen, maybe I’ll actually get something done today.