I guess there’s a certain moment in every American’s life when he or she knows he or she is getting older. There comes a point in time when all the pretending in the world won’t keep you hip, or cool, or of the younger-generation.
I know. I got these hipster cool glasses and even their hippness cannot hide the fact they are bi-focals. Damn.
But, it has nothing to do failing eyesight or with much more gray hair. Or, less hair in general.
Little to do with wrinkles around the eyes.
Less to do with aches and pains.
It has everything to do with the structure of American politics.
The other day when I celebrated a birthday, I realized I am older than the first lady, Michelle Obama.
I grew up wide-eyed and in awe of the President of the United States. The President was top-dog, our leader, world leader, and some one to admire. The President was a man (cuz that’s the way it was/is) to respect. He had to be wise and honorable . . . after all he was ‘old.? Some one to look up to, some one who was always older than I was.
And, all old people were smart and full of wisdom.
Right?
The world spins. New fads give way to newer ones. Your waistline grows and . . .
. . . then, one day you wake up and realize you’re closer in age to the dude who is in the Oval Office than you ever were before.
Holy Get Out The Geritol, Batman!
Gulp.
Does that make me old? Gee whiz, I don’t feel wisdom oozing out of my pores, though I do feel some aches and pains if I fall asleep on the floor; if I don’t shave, my beard is graying, and there are wrinkles around my eyes and on my hands.
I sure don’t feel presidential.
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I wonder if the President is a member of AARP, or if he throws out their mail as junk like I do? Speaking of the American Association of Retired People, why are they sending me stuff? I am not retired. And, how do I get them to stop wasting their time on me. I will never join. (And, I know you are never ‘sposed to say ‘never,? but I never will join. Ever.)
* * *
Of course, based on my hypothesis on presidents and age, you’d think folks would start feeling old, younger. Article 2, Section 1 of the United States Constitution says, to be president, a person needs only be at least 35-years-old (a natural-born citizen of the US and must have lived in the United States for 14 years). So, shouldn’t we start feeling older in the mid-30s?
* * *
Sometimes I wonder, if a person was elected president at the age of 35, would his hair be gray at the end of his first or second term?
Even President Obama’s hair is grayer now than it was when he first got into office — and he was younger and hipper than most presidents before him.
Then I think some more.
It is a real possibility a woman could be elected president in a couple of years. Hillary Clinton is the odds on favorite to win. And, she is old. If a woman becomes president, would we even know if her hair was gray? Would she be honest and let it go, or would she have it dyed?
Is wondering about stupid stuff a sign of old age or the harbinger of more-wise things to come?
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So, when I had my birthday on Sunday, I hit 52. I really don’t ‘feel? old. I think my mind still thinks I’m 25, or 35. I feel I can still do the things I did back then, but I don’t because I’m wiser.
I don’t stay — or go — out late.
I’m in bed before 10. Sleeping by 10:02
I drive the speed limit and don’t take chances when making lane changes on the highway.
I feel good. My mind is happy. It must be all the people around me, friends and family. So, thank you for making me feel younger than I am or deserve to be!
* * *
Is admitting you don’t know, a sign of age or wisdom?
* * *
And, finally Gary Hintz of Coldwell Banker Shooltz said it best recently, ‘It’s better to be seen than viewed.?
Comments, suggestions and cursing can be emailed to Don@ShermanPublications.org