Post Scripts: What do you think about growing older?

Not long ago I was in a shopping center, waiting for Kathy to complete her rounds so we could get back to our apartment. While there a little boy came by and after chatting for awhile, he surprised me with a question. He said, AHow do you like being an old man?@ I was a bit embarrassed …being only 89 years old and only two months from my 90^th …because I have seldom thought of myself as being in the clutches of Father Time.

The youngster seemed to comprehend that he might have placed me in a delicate position and he quickly said: AGolly, mister, I made a boo-boo. Please don’t tell my mom I asked you that. If she tells my dad, I’ll be in deep stuff.@ I told the youngster not to worry– it will be our secret. It was then he produced a deep breath with sound affects.

To tell the truth, I am not sure how I rate in the battle of old age. I sometimes despair when I think about the time God might give me on Planet Earth and yet I know I owe my Lord a whole lot for letting me live to the age of 90 (in July). Today I think I have become my best friend because I have learned to excuse the added inches around my tummy, plus my gray hair B at least what’s still on my head.

I’m pretty much kinder to myself but seldom do anything without consulting Kathy because living with her for 65 years I came to understand she is a most intelligent and loving person and had I not chosen her to decide some important issues from time to time, we would, as my mother used to say, ABe Up Mike’s Creek.@

As it turned out, I have lived a long time, sufficiently long enough to appreciate the hair still on my head and to have happy lines in my face, not yet replaced with deep lines of agitation or regret, or a tummy that precedes me by too many inches. When I look in the mirror these days I realize that all the laughing I’ve done has drawn lines in my face and put gray in my hair. It also made me less fearful of old age. All my signs of old age simply make me happy since I recognize that, despite serving in two wars and being in the newspaper business since I was a teenager, I have the right to be myself and say yes or no and even be wrong now and then.

I carried the Kansas City Journal Post when I was a young teenager. When I was out of high school I started my own weekly newspaper, The Eastern Eagle followed by the Blue Valley News and wrote columns for both of them. I also worked nights at The Kansas City Star until Uncle Sam called me to duty. On my Journal Post delivery route I passed a business where a newspaper was being printed and it so fascinated me seeing sheets of blank paper going through the press coming out with print on them that I decided I wanted to be a newspaper man.

Best of all, I am grateful for having a wonderful wife and family, plus a host of friends. Without them I’m sure my life would not have developed on the plus side. For that, I will be eternally thankful.