rob kall-- me, on my 60th birthday
Back when I was a kid, reading DC and Marvel comics every day, I was sure that by now I'd have made a trip to the moon and maybe mars and surely would have had sex in zero gravity. Geez, there's still no account of a single sexual act in zero gravity. But I digress.
On the course towards reaching sixty I passed the age my father died from heart disease (51) and will start the day by working on the website I founded, Opednews.com and then going to the gym where I'll work out for about an hour-- shorter than I'd like, but I need to get home to do an interview for my radio show.
Turning sixty feels like is a big deal. But I'm not sure why. It IS the beginning of my seventh decade and that feels pretty old. On the other hand, in March, I went on my first major ski trip since I tore my meniscus a few years ago and still managed to enjoyably navigate black diamond, mogul covered ski slopes, and can still, on a good day, beat my 21 year old son playing racquetball, so I'm not really feeling very old.
Among my friends, the folks I went to high school, college, even kindergarten with (I'm still friends with a few of them) I'm pretty much the last one to turn sixty, since, in third grade, when the Philly school system switched from half year grades to full year, I was moved forward and skipped half a year. That set me up to graduate from high school at 16, which was not fun.
Now as I turn 60, I'm wondering, are there any advantages? Discounts on subways or movies or anything? Any liabilities? I'm pretty sure being past the 50's makes you seem REALLY old to Millennials and possibly also Generations X and Y.
But I'm not alone. Many of my friends here have been through this life benchmark passage and I figured I'd ask what advice, what thoughts you have.
My old friend Wendy, wife of one of my best friends Les, advised me to do something each day that's meaningful. I try and usually succeed.
I've had scores of "friends" I don't know on facebook wish me a happy birthday. If you're so inclined, do it using the commenting system here on OEN, and include some advice or a favorite quote, so it's also about you and I can connect at least a bit beyond the two words happy birthday. And thanks to all who have already wished me a happy birthday.
What advice or observations do you have? You don't have to be 60 or over to comment. If you're near or far from it you can also talk about your own thoughts on turning 60.
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