How do you lose a year

[gmattson]

of your life????

I was at dinner with friends last week and the question of my impending birthday came up. Someone asked me "how old are you."

Now this was the first time I even though about birthdays for a long time. (I try not to think about them any longer)

I quickly said "I'll be 68 on the 12th"!

Another friend said "I though you were born in 1937!" Which will make you 69 on the 12th!!!!


Whaaaaat! How in the hell did I lose a complete year!

Anyway... I've been pretty depressed these last couple days. Vicky helped by sending me a couple of really great gifts. Many thanks Vicky, but honestly, I'd prefer to get that year back!

[chef]

Thanks, George, I am glad I could put a smile on your face.

Don't feel badly, I am turning 51 on Oct. 13 and have been doing that very same thing myself. Yikes! I am even forgetting my kid's ages.

The mind is a terrible thing to lose.....ain't it so?????


Vicki

PS.....maybe 69 will be your lucky number.

[mhosea]

My father died at almost 69 in 2005, and Art Linkletter (born in 1912) was on the same plane as me on the way home from the funeral. Seemed ironic to me at the time, but the fact of the matter is that it's all about health, not age. Here's to your health! Salud!

[Stryke]

I forgot how old I was , earlier this year someone asked me and I genuinely didnt have a clue .

I`ve since worked it out , But I really think it`s a good sign youve had to much living to do to keep count .

your only as old as you feel/act .

Keep on keeping On George , Any day above grounds a good day .

[CANDANeh]

Magic number
19 with 50 years experience...You just misplaced one good years experience.

Bottom line 69 is rather old (that doesn`t help eh) and "climbing the mountain" a few yards ahead of me. However, enjoying the climb?

[Bill Glasheen]

Have a good one, George.

As long as you're doing what you want to do, the age doesn't matter.

- Bill

[Glenn]

Our society is too hung up on numbers. I think it had to be better back when people didn't know when they were born and thus did not think of being a certain age. But then again, back then the average life expectancy was around 40 and you were an elder if you survived to 30...so you really didn't have time to think about numerical age. I turn 40 this year, so in those places/times I would be an old man!

I personally don't put much stock in numerical age. Societal perception of ability with age is just an average at best, not an accurate statement of individual experiences. Biologist Ernst Mayr's 25th book was published in 2004 when he was 99...in fact 14 of those 25 books were published after he was 65. He remained productive up to the end of his life in 2005. And there are many more successful aging stories.

And compared to the people who are ranked as the oldest oldest alive, those over 110, 69 is still youth!

[chef]

A Huge Happy Birthday to you today, George!



My wishes to you for a wonderful day and an even better year.

My best to you,
Vicki

[gmattson]

Since I'm still a kid at heart, 69 seems soooo old! Especially since I still act like a 20 year old!

[RobM]

Happy Birthday George Sensei!!

A good signature line: "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were"?

[f.Channell]

I went to my wife's Uncles 80th birthday party this past weekend.

He drives an excavator 6-4 everyday and 8-2 on Saturdays.

At the party I noticed he was surrounded by 20 and 30 year old guys that work with him swapping stories and having good laughs.

There's a lesson in there somewhere.

I see similiar things that Van and Sensei George do in their life. They never stop doing, or trying/learning new things, and surround themselves with friends young and old.

So I expect to see a lot more birthdays out of those guys.

F.

[IJ]

Here's a birthday present one can send online and may actually be of some use--a wish for good health. Have you had all your recommended screening and preventive medicine?

From (mostly) the United States Preventive Services Task Force

--alcohol abuse, depression and obesity screening
--aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events counseling
--colon cancer screening
--fecal occult blood testing
--colonoscopy every 10 years after 50
--screening for diabetes in adults with hypertension or high cholesterol
--cholesterol check
--extrapolation of trial data suggests that LDL cholesterols might be ideal at levels few of us are likely to go below--say, 57?
--annual physical
--hypertension screening
--treatmen until normal appears to be optimal
--vaccination update
--tetanus every 10; pneumovax after 65 (marginally useful), ? zoster vaccine; pertussis booster with your tetanus ?

That's pretty much it, for guys; prostate cancer screening is still controversial as it carries side effects along with benefits, which are hard to tease out. Ladies get some cervical, breast cancer, and osteoporosis screening mixed in.

Anyway, here's wishing you continued good health.

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pocketgd.pdf

[dejsis]

Since I'm still a kid at heart, 69 seems soooo old! Especially since I still act like a 20 year old!

That's all that matters Sensei. Enjoy!

[RACastanet]

What dejsis said!

Rich

[John Giacoletti]

Bow in. Suit up. You're timeless. Some students are more experienced than others.

You have that special gift of being able to appreciate and value the rich opportunity of teaching and learning, of giving and sharing, in person and in writing.

You receive what you earn and that's THE BEST.

Domo arigato, Sensei.