Not Old, Just Older

I’m not old enough to sing the blues
But I wore the holes in the soles of these shoes
You can roll the dice ’til they call your bluff
But you can’t win until you’re not afraid to lose

Well, I look in the mirror
I don’t hate what I see
There’s a few more lines staring back at me
The nights have grown a little colder
…
It’s been all these years
Can you believe I’m still chasing dreams
But I ain’t looking over my shoulder

I like the bed I’m sleeping in
It’s just like me, it’s broken in
It’s not old — just older
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans
This skin I’m in it’s alright with me
It’s not old — just older

Those lyrics are from “Just Older” by Bon Jovi. I make a point to listen to that one on this day every year. Yeah, I turned 61 today. Technically, at 10:45 AM, if we want to get specific. And, really, I can’t believe it. Not because “OMG, I’m getting so OLD!” No, I have a hard time thinking of myself as being over 60. Oh, sure, the knees ache in rainy weather like today, the back is often bothersome, and all the joints sure seem to stiffen up fast. But, despite all that, I still feel that I can do whatever I want to do, and I certainly don’t feel that there is anything I shouldn’t do, because, well, you know, “at your age.” Pshaw, to that, I say!

Chasing dreams? Sure, we all should be doing that. When you give up on your dreams, you give up on life. Yes, some of those dreams may have changed over the years, but they are there, and, I hope, always will be.

Has it been perfect? No, of course not. No one has a perfect life, no matter what it may look like from the outside. But, truth be told, it hasn’t been a bad ride overall up to now. I have a wonderful family, a roof over my head, food on the table, and enough luxuries to have a comfortable life. Am I content? Well, mostly. Except, of course, for those dreams. That’s where things shouldn’t be too comfortable.

I’ll sum it up with another lyric, this time from Jimmy Buffett’s “He Went To Paris”:

Some of it’s magic
And some of it’s tragic
But I had a good life all the way

So, here’s to me. Happy Birthday, and let’s hope for at least a few more, shall we?