How a Pirate Feels at 50
I am hitting the big Five-Oh today. I have mixed emotions about it. Can you believe it? Half a century! It sounds so old. I’m not that old! Am I? What should I do? How should I feel? Its just a day? It feels like a day of self-assessment.
It makes me think of all the things I’ve done and gotten accomplished. And all the things I haven’t accomplished. And those things I should have accomplished. If you are younger, take note. I don’t want to sound too grim but…. time is running out! (lol) Well that’s kinda the way I feel.
To add salt to my wounds this week I heard a snippet on NPR (there we go again) about Ford’s pension plan and how they don’t have enough to pay all their employees and they are asking their employees to take a lump sum payout instead taking their annual receipts. And one guy is interviewed and he say’s “I don’t know. It’s a gamble. Do I take it all now or wait until later…..”I MAY NOT LIVE THAT LONG”!
~Thanks NPR.
Deepening the mortality wound a bit deeper this week was my AARP card arriving in the mail 😦 I didn’t ask for this!
On the way home yesterday I heard this old favorite song and it kinda summed up my somber mood. I hope you don’t mind. I think the song talks about ‘what’s left to do’. It talks about dreams ahead and old pirate days of the past; things I did, things I did and can’t do anymore and things still left to do. It the big Five-Oh. Here it is, with some embellishments…
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all
Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen
Most of ’em dreams, most of ’em dreams
Yes, I am a Pirate
Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
My The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder
I’m an over-forty fifty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late
I’ve done a bit of smugglin‘ snugglin’, I’ve run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
Never meant to last, never meant to last
And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishin’, got to go fishin’
Down to rock bottom again
With just a few friends, just a you WordPress friends
(figuratively my Forties)
I go went for younger women, lived with several awhile
Though I ran ’em away, they’d come back one day
And still could manage to smile
Just takes a while, just takes a while
Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I’ve found
My occupational hazard being my occupation’s just not around
I feel like I’ve drowned, but I won’t wear a frown.
My “Weekend At Bernies” pose
Well it appears I need a new set of goals. No more “buying Miami’s”. I need to get a tad more conservative in choices in my 401K. Try to further enhance any legacy plans previously sown. And try to touch my toes every morning when these old bones get out of bed! And maybe, this year, I can finally decide what I want to be when I grow up….besides the World’s Coolest Dad!
I have many things to be thankful for so far. This blog illustrates just a few of them. Its just another day.
Jimmy Buffett can perform this song a whole lot nicer than it reads. Check it out….
OUR LIFE IN 3D 
That is great advice Pat. Thank you! I have generally been one to live for the moment, if being impulsive fits in there. But I do spend too much time worrying about the future and reliving the past too. But I don’t want to miss anything so I will try to remember your advice. Thanks for offering!
Ah, to be 50 again. At the grand old age of 64, I know I probably only have 18 to 20 years left. Is it worrying sometimes? Yep. But I really believe in being in the moment that I am living right now. It never comes again. I can never relive it. And if I choose to be staring into the future or worrying about the past, I miss that one, unique minute of my life. And I don’t want to do that. Read Jon Kabat Zinn – Wherever You Go, There You Are. Or Deepak Chopra – The Book Of Secrets or Tich Nhat Han – No Death – No Fear. And know that you are the one who decides how to spend each and every precious moment of your life. In front of the TV? Having a bit too much wine? Worrying about passing time? Or living, living, living every single second, minute, hour and day of your time on this planet.
Thanks Derek. I am glad someone see the resemblance in the “Bernie” pose. I thought it was funny too, all I need is the mustache! I laughed all the way through that movie. But that’s got to be an ‘old’ movie by now too. OK I will listen to all you WP bloggers and am looking forward to the ‘prime of life’ then! Cause the previous 50 has pretty good.
Thanks Karen! You made me smile….although if you are referring to the pics in this blog they are 5 years old on a trip to Curacao. I appreciate what you said. We should catch up. Yes, I was thinking about leaving the blog world. I just don’t really have the time to put out a good product right And, yes, I enjoyed my day and still enjoying my whole b-day weekend. Come on down…we are going to a ball game tonight to watch the Yankees farm team
Andy, keep on doing what you’re doing. You look fantastic for a 50-year old dude & one of the world’s coolest dads. Besides, don’t you know? 50 is the new 30!! Happy Be-lated!! …… was about to send out an APB for you! Happy to see you on the blog-o-sphere again. Hope you enjoyed your day. 🙂
Weekend at Bernies, now that’s funny right there. I think you will be alright, but I am not 50 yet so what do I know. I agree with a previous comment. You are in the prime of your life, with or without NPR.
Oh you are not late you are right on time! Thank you for the B-Day wishes ! I know its just a number but it makes me feel like I should feel a certain way, being 50, and I’m not sure what that is so its is life as usual. I use your determination and drive to remind me what one can do. Keep up your great work! I’m a distant fan but still rooting for ya! Thanks for dropping by…
Happy Belated Birthday! You seem to be enjoying life regardless of age… 50 is just a number!
Sarah, I don’t know if I have heard that but I will take it! Thanks for the ‘motivation’….again. But if I live 50 more years one of my goals has to be to try one of your D-lish cookies and maybe I can catch some of the energy you have. Thanks for dropping by and the B-Day wishes! Have a great weekend!
Happy Birthday! They say life only starts at 50 though right?!?!? Sounds like you have a lot to look forward to 🙂
lol well thank you Janice! I really don’t feel like life is running out but the timing of the NPR gig was awful. But you are right, I felt this way when I turned 25 (my worst b-day to date). Like this thing called life was a guitar and I was worried if I was playing it right….horrible analogy. Thanks for the B-Day wishes! I am still waiting for your Cafe Tour as I am gonna be the first to buy your concert Tee.
OMG HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!!!!!!!!! Don’t worry, you don’t look a day over 30 =P
You’ve definitely accomplished so much and that’s just from what I know! Don’t spend the rest of your life feeling like time is running out. That’s how I feel and I’m not even 30! Time to enjoy the present 😀