19 Comments
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Learn with Larry's avatar

Welcome to the club. I just turned 61 a few days ago. I do ponder, how did I get so old? I don’t feel old and like you said, a lot of that has to do with staying curious. I fell great and am enjoying life more than ever! I’m glad I read till the end

Baseball Buddha's avatar

Thanks for sharing Larry, I dreaded 40 and 50 but 60 feels good.

Gary Trujillo's avatar

"Fuck this was long… why the did you read all this shit." 😂

I turn 51 on July 26 and I can relate to most of this. Definitely one of your best. Cheers.

Baseball Buddha's avatar

July 30th here, thanks Gary.

Gary Trujillo's avatar

Leos 🦁

Baseball Buddha's avatar

Yes, we are, and it is also the year of the horse which I am also, which means it is also Fire Horse for me, my partner says this important and means that I am opinionated, curious, difficult to contain, and unlikely to quietly accept bullshit. Her words and research, not mine... Fire Horse only happens every 60 years, so basically my shit doesn't stink this year.

Roger W's avatar

Wow. I relate to all of this. You captured my current state. Well done.

Sam B.'s avatar

Great post. I turned 56 last month and can relate to the majority of what you wrote. Pretty much everything aside from the early dinner part. I'm a longtime night owl and have doubled down on that as I've gotten older, and my entire schedule is built around that. As I tell my coworkers - if you need me in by 11, I'll be in by 11. If you need me in by 9, I'll be in by 11. I love the peaceful of the late night hours (roughly 11 PM to 1 AM).

Baseball Buddha's avatar

I am also a night owl, however the early dinners work well for my partner and me, thanks Sam.

hysdavid's avatar

That was long.Welcome to the club.

Schminkie's avatar

Such terrific writing. I’m jealous. I loathe hypocrisy. That’s where my writings in Stacksville begin and end. Pointing at it. Shining a light on it. Laughing at it. Laughing at it some more. Hoping the others around here get it. They say (the ubiquitous They that people rely on for all manner of flotsam and jetsam) say it’s harder to make people laugh than cry. Maybe I’m just a smarmy fuck. Well fuck that.

An aside. Have you noticed work and workers never appear in movies? Except for Charlie Chaplin. Maybe that’s why Hollywood hated him. Anyway.,,,

So 60. How about 59?

Ps. You owe me a ball game.

Baseball Buddha's avatar

I do owe you a game, unfortunately I have been to only game all year so far.

Schminkie's avatar

One game? Me? None. if you’re actually not interested, tell me.

Keith Rohman's avatar

OK, but can we agree that every baseball game IS a story? Even if we don’t find it. Just knowing it’s there makes me feel better.

Steve Goldberg's avatar

Brilliant essay. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a couple of months behind you, but so much of this is relatable and also a great reminder when it all starts to overwhelm. I’ve saved this and added it to my calendar to read first thing in the morning of my next birthday. Oh, happy birthday 🎂 🎉!

Kevin Alexander's avatar

Happy (early) birthday! Here's to many more early dinners, photography projects, and blowing up bridges that no longer get us where we need to go.

Wyrd Smythe's avatar

Turning 60 was a snap. Exactly as you say, it doesn't feel old (and everyone tells me that 60 is the new 40). Turning 70 (last fall) was different, though. *Now* I'm starting to feel old.

So, enjoy your last "young" decade!