Notes from a Medicare Baby

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Next week, I hit one of life’s stereotypical milestones when my personal odometer clicks to 65 years on Monday (beware the Ides of March, indeed).  Of course, those younger than I am are saying,  “Wow, and you aren’t napping yet?" and those sager than I (i.e., older) are saying, “And. So?”  I think I now understand that sentiment as I join my fellow Medicare babies.

I remember sitting in class at John F. Kennedy Junior High School (way back when) and talking to my friend about his having attended his uncle’s 20th birthday celebration the previous weekend.  I had a very specific thought in my mind of the hill that his old and decrepit uncle was now over.

I also thought of how annoying I was to those around me when I turned 33 1/3 years old in June 1989 (ask your grandparents what that means) I cannot wait until 2034 when I turn 78.

I was out with friends when living in North Carolina as the conversation turned to a mutual friend’s upcoming 40th birthday celebration. Although I was only a few years younger, that seemed like someone else being quite over the proverbial hill.

And now as I reach yet another of these milestones, it has become clear to me that that we are all on this roller-coaster called life together, some in cars ahead of us and some in cars behind and that age itself does not matter whatsoever.

  • What matters is your memories and what you have learned from them.
  • What matters is how many people you loved and how many to whom you showed kindness, even when you did not have to do so.
  • What matters are the times that you were afraid of taking an important action and took it anyway. 
  • What matters is those memories that you use as touchstones to help propel you to overcome your fears: telling that certain someone you love them and holding your breath for what seemed like forever as you hear those words back from them.
  • What matters is taking the plunge to dive off the highest level on diving board and slicing into the water like a pro, that first speech you made to a large audience and how well it was received. 

In fact, the list of times that have helped us grow as a person, the true and meaningful connections with others, those deep and hearty laughs which sometimes seem so few and far between, and fearlessly caring for those for whom you love are the elements of what successfully matures us, not the pages of a calendar as they fall off the wall with ever increasing speed year after year.

And now, if you would excuse me, I really do need that nap.    

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