Good Sunday morning everyone! I hope that this Sunday morning finds you well, loved and giving love.
Well, my wife has declared me to be old. For the first time in my life I am wearing corrective lenses for my eyes. Wearing glasses feels a little weird, but it sure is nice to not have my vision go fuzzy on me. It's all part of her nefarious plan I am sure. For years now she has been waiting until I fall asleep at night to paint my hair white, move my keys, and shrink all of the waistbands on my shorts. I suspect that this is just the next step. Soon, she will start saving the hairs that the dogs shed and pasting them in my ears and nostrils too I presume. Like I said, it's all very nefarious!
In truth I am not very old, but neither am I am I as young as I used to be. I will turn 37 in September. On the one hand, there are still people near twice my age climbing mountains, working on stage and screen, and even fathering children (<-- questionable decision in my view). On the other, supermodels and centerfolds are half my age and pro sports rookies are just barely over half my age! (<-- just plain alarming)
The trade offs are numerous. The energy that I used to take for granted is more difficult to find some days. The perspective for which I used to struggle comes as naturally as the sun rise. Old injuries suffered as a young man in scholastic wrestling that I thought were long since buried in history have returned to make me a pretty damn good meteorologist. I used to view any purchase over about $20 as a major investment. Today, I hardly have deep pockets, but can easily afford 3 or 4 times that to show my wife and kids a good time on a weekend. There used to be very little that I wanted more than to get a break from my wet blanket parents. Today, I lose sleep thinking about how I can get closer to my dad and spend more time with him.
For so much of my young life, I viewed dating like a bird watcher views birding. It was as though I had a list to check off or as if someone was keeping score. It was almost a Dr, Suess approach. One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish was short chick, blonde chick, goth chick, new chick. Don't misunderstand, dear reader, I never engaged in deception. I didn't lie or cheat, not ever. I did, however, have a goal and it certainly wasn't a long term one. Age and experience eventually taught me (not easy lessons either) that what I was chasing about those young ladies was the one thing about a woman that is... common. Every single female (and some who aren't single) has that to offer. It was when I learned that it is everything ELSE about a woman that makes her special (or not so special depending on the individual) that I was able to appreciate what it is that a wise man seeks in a partner (and a partner is what he should be seeking). Today I have the single most important, joyful, meaningful, and rewarding thing that I have ever had in my life. It is my ever deepening love for my wife. I cherish her to a degree which cannot express and the love that she gives me back makes everything else in life secondary. Any other successes that I have are gravy. I've already won at life.
For much of that 'bird watcher' time in my life, I was terrified that I would get that "I'm late" phone call. Today, I can tell what so many other parents can. Nothing gives life more purpose. Nothing makes peeling my carcass off of the mattress in the morning when the alarm clock interrupts my reveries worth it like fatherhood. Nothing swells my chest with pride like each new advancement in the development of the crumb snatchers' little brains and personalities. Nothing soothes away life's horrors and frustrations like walking through the front door of my house to hear: "Yay! Daddy's home!!!"
This has been a sort of stream of consciousness yammering that you've just endured. I don't know that I really have an overarching point except that maybe aging has its trade offs. It's a mixed bag, but overall I think it's a good deal.
It certainly beats the crap out of the alternative.
Shift gears a little (guitar at about 4 minutes in is hot)
now this is a love song
As alway, Todd, Lila and I are truly thankful to you for sharing your time with us this Sunday morning. We hope that you will please keep the good times rolling in the comments section by posting whatever you feel like sharing or just joining in the conversation.
Remember Todd and Lila love you.