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Wolf Frankula

(3,595 posts)
Sat Jan 10, 2015, 03:39 PM Jan 2015

Tomorrow I am Going to be 60

Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2015, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)

I made some informal resolutions to keep when I am old. Now that I will be 60 (that seemed old when I made these) I look back and think I have kept (more or less) them. Here they are, with some illuminative stories

1: I will not regard everybody younger than me as put on this planet to be my servant. This annoyed me when I was younger, and I resolved not to do it. I haven't and don't.

2: I will not say 'When I was your age' and follow it with how much better I was than the person I'm talking to. In those days we answered 'When I was your age' with 'When you were my age people walked on four legs.'

3: I will speak respectfully to younger people so long as they speak respectfully to me. I remember once going into a restaurant when I was 19 to get a coffee and a bowl of soup. I had filed my copy and was taking time before a city council meeting. An elderly woman fixed me with a glare and said "Young man!" in a stern voice. I ignored her, I didn't know her and had no idea why she would be addressing me. She snapped "Young Man!" again. I looked up from my soup and she snapped "I have a dirty fork!"
I shrugged. I didn't work there, It wasn't my problem. I said, "It's not my concern." Before I finish what she was saying, she snapped "You're very rude, boy. I'm going to call the manager." She did, the manager explained I did not work there. She should stop bothering the other customers. She snorted at me and stalked out.

Since then when I approach somebody younger it's 'Mister, Sir, Ma'am, Mizz' never "young man, young lady, boy, girl, kid, sonny boy' or something disrespectful like that.

4: I will not blather on about how music, people, movies, theater, food, and so on were better when I was younger. These are matters of taste. And It was not easier to get a job. I had the oil shock, stagflation and the Reagan Depression to deal with. I had a job during the first two, but constantly worried about losing it. And beer is much better now.

5: I will not say stupid things like 'I'm older and wiser.' Robert Heinlein was right when he had Lazarus Long say, "Age does not bring wisdom. Often it merely changes simple stupidity into arrogant conceit. "

6: I will not make stupid threats. Especially I will not threaten to whip, spank, tan the hide, warm the bottom or other battery of someone younger. I remember hearing a friend's aunt say, 'You're not too big to spank, boy.' to him. He responded, 'And neither are you, and you'll find that out if you try it." You do not threaten to spank a paratrooper in the US Army.

7: I will not whine about my ailments. Actually I'm very healthy for my age. Active physical jobs, not smoking, and fighting with the rapier and tweehander have kept me so.

8: I will not fool myself into thinking very young women especially desire me.

Wolf

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Tomorrow I am Going to be 60 (Original Post) Wolf Frankula Jan 2015 OP
Well, Happy Birthday then! TuxedoKat Jan 2015 #1
If everyone followed your resolutions, Suich Jan 2015 #2
well, in that case i think it's safe to wish you a happy birthday!! have a great week!! n/t orleans Jan 2015 #3
HAve a HAppy Birthday. Whenever someone says Mr. to me, I immediately think of my dad benld74 Jan 2015 #4
I hope you'll have a great birthday tomorrow, my dear Wolf! CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2015 #5
Happy Birthday!! handmade34 Jan 2015 #6
Happy Birthday, Joe Shlabotnik Jan 2015 #7
Happity birfdeee! shenmue Jan 2015 #8
Happy Birthday, Wolf! KMOD Jan 2015 #9
Happy birthday W F. lovemydog Jan 2015 #10
Happy Birthday, Wolf Frankula! Enthusiast Jan 2015 #11
We share the same Birthday! AwakeAtLast Jan 2015 #12
happy birthday irisblue Jan 2015 #13
Happy Birthday, Wolf sarge43 Jan 2015 #14
Happy Birthday Sarge43 Wolf Frankula Jan 2015 #18
Regarding #8 oberliner Jan 2015 #15
No I Don't Wolf Frankula Jan 2015 #16
Happy Birthday. I wish I was 60 again. RebelOne Jan 2015 #17
Happy 60th! :) nt steve2470 Jan 2015 #19
belated happy b-day Wolf! magical thyme Jan 2015 #20
Turning 60 is not bad. Mr.Bill Jan 2015 #21
Happy Birthday! Phentex Jan 2015 #22
Congratulations BeyondGeography Jan 2015 #23
Happy belated B-day from a 64 year old. panader0 Jan 2015 #24
"I will not fool myself into thinking very young women especially desire me." chknltl Jan 2015 #25
OK, that does it Art_from_Ark Jan 2015 #26
Congratulations! DeSwiss Jan 2015 #27

TuxedoKat

(3,818 posts)
1. Well, Happy Birthday then!
Sat Jan 10, 2015, 05:39 PM
Jan 2015

Great rules to live by. I follow all of those myself. Hope you have a wonderful, memorable day.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
2. If everyone followed your resolutions,
Sat Jan 10, 2015, 06:31 PM
Jan 2015

the world would be a better place, Wolf!

Congratulations on another successful trip around the sun!

benld74

(9,881 posts)
4. HAve a HAppy Birthday. Whenever someone says Mr. to me, I immediately think of my dad
Sat Jan 10, 2015, 09:18 PM
Jan 2015

I'm 58 and close on your heels,,,,,,

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,181 posts)
5. I hope you'll have a great birthday tomorrow, my dear Wolf!
Sat Jan 10, 2015, 09:58 PM
Jan 2015

And I greatly respect your resolutions. They are excellent.

I wish you many more happy years!



Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
11. Happy Birthday, Wolf Frankula!
Sun Jan 11, 2015, 02:44 AM
Jan 2015

Maybe yesterday's music wasn't better back then. But it's still good to hear once in a while.





AwakeAtLast

(14,109 posts)
12. We share the same Birthday!
Sun Jan 11, 2015, 12:09 PM
Jan 2015

These are wonderful words for anyone to live by. I will refer to this often.

Have a great one!




sarge43

(28,935 posts)
14. Happy Birthday, Wolf
Sun Jan 11, 2015, 12:47 PM
Jan 2015

I'll be 72 tomorrow.

A couple more to add to your excellent advice.

1. The days are dwindling down so live each one fully

2. Don't dwell on the past. Done is done.

3. Old dogs can learn new tricks, so keep interested in what's going on and try something new.

4. Wear something purple and a red hat. It's liberating.

Wolf Frankula

(3,595 posts)
16. No I Don't
Sun Jan 11, 2015, 03:28 PM
Jan 2015

But I've seen men my age make damned fools of themselves over young women.

And one I forgot.

9: If you really want to do it, do it today, do it now. There is NO next time and some day never comes.

Wolf

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
17. Happy Birthday. I wish I was 60 again.
Sun Jan 11, 2015, 06:32 PM
Jan 2015

On Jan. 18, I will be 76. I don't consider myself old, but others do. I am just happy to have made it to this age. I just hope to make it to 80.

BeyondGeography

(39,226 posts)
23. Congratulations
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 02:52 PM
Jan 2015

60 is my official plug-removed-from-wall-except-for-the-stuff-I-care-about age. I have five years to go and I don't know if I can make it without doing same right now.

Your post #16 tells me I'm on the right track.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
24. Happy belated B-day from a 64 year old.
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 06:08 PM
Jan 2015

The thing about being "over the hill" is that as you start going downhill, you pick up speed.

chknltl

(10,558 posts)
25. "I will not fool myself into thinking very young women especially desire me."
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 06:39 PM
Jan 2015

I was glad to see that one listed, high on my own list was that I would NOT turn into the 'Creepy Old Guy'.
Speaking of which: Old Guy goes up to an Old Lady and says: "Say there hot stuff, would you like some super sex? She looks him over and says: "I'll take the soup....definitely the soup!"
Happy 60th Wolf Frankula

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