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Getting Older . . .
By Mark D. Roberts | Thursday, May 17, 2007
Last week I had a momentous birthday. Most people would say that I turned 50. I’ve actually been saying that I just entered my sixth decade. Might as well milk getting older for all it’s worth.
On the day of my birthday, I thought I’d celebrate in the late afternoon by going on a run in one of my favorite locations, Crystal Cove State Park. This park includes three miles of unspoiled beaches, as well as some pristine canyons. I set out on a four-mile run along the beach and back.
It was a beautiful afternoon as I trotted along. I don’t run as often or a quickly as I once did. My knees have their limits, after all. Nevertheless, I felt pretty good about myself for being able to jog at all at 50 years old.
As I got to the end of my run, I slowed to a walk. The older I get, the more I’ve discovered that cooling down after exercise helps minimize pain. While I was ambling along, I stopped to talk with a young man riding in some sort of golf cart. We chatted about the weather and who knows what else. Finally the man asked me, “Say, what have you been doing?”
“Oh, I went on a little run down the beach for a couple of miles and then back,” I answered, feeling slightly smug.
“Wow!” he said, “that’s great for a guy of your age!”
Hey, I wondered to myself, do I now have some invisible sign that reads “Old guy” or something like that. At my age? Nobody’s ever said anything like that to me before.
Well, actually I once had something happen to me that was even worse. Stay tuned . . . .
Topics: Fun |
8 Responses to “Getting Older . . .”
Comments
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May 17th, 2007 at 3:33 am
Have they started asking you if you qualify for the “senior discount” yet? Ten years early?!?
There is one place I stop once in awhile where it starts at age 48. Hey, I’ll take what I can get honestly!
Happy birthday!
May 17th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Thomas: Ah, great question. I’ll answer that in my next post!
May 17th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Hey pastor
Happy Birhtday! Hey, I’m right behind you in the cool down category. I train in martial arts once a week, and it usually takes 2 to three days to completely recover. I ust to run track in high school and college, but now the only running I do is chasing after my 8 year old son. Have a grat Birhtday! God Bless.
D. Quinzon
Visalia, CA.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Dominic: Thanks. Hey, I like Visalia, usually because I stay there on my way to the Sierra. Also because you have a Pizza Factory and a Foster’s Freeze.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Hey Mark! Happy Belated Birthday! You don’t look a day older than 49. Thanks for having been my pastor and friend for a good number of those years already. I hope you live another half a century, at least. Blessings to you!
May 17th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Happy Birthday Mark DUDE!
May 19th, 2007 at 1:19 am
And here I thought I was the guy in the Christian Blogosphere whom won the “older than dirt” award for turning … um … a few years younger than you it appears on the 17th!
Either way, happy b’day from one old guy to another.
May 19th, 2007 at 9:10 am
I have been counting my age in “years since 29″ for a long time. my wife and I along with another couple, are entering a bowling tournament this Fall. I was shocked to learn “I” was eligible for the Senior Singles event since I turn 50 before the tournament begins - OUCH!
Happy? Birthday!