The other day, I began the day feeling old – closer to 70 than I had been the year before. Yet I also seem to be younger than my peers. Despite all my medical issues, I have been able to manage some household chores and even do some minor projects. I can also almost keep up with my two young grandchildren when I get to see them. Remind you, I said almost, and that is being generous. However, by the end of the day, I just felt ancient, thanks to my granddaughter.
As I help put her and her brother into their car seats, my granddaughter grabs my arm and tells me to get into the car. She says I need to go home with them. Of course, that just melts my heart. But of course she loves me. I am their favorite play toy. But that’s another story of the adventures of the horse called Papa.
I tell her I need to go home to rest. I say I am old and tired. She then goes on a diatribe about how I am going to live to be a thousand years old. I tell her that would make me really old.
Of course, her response is that I am already really old. I smile. Yet the reality is she is so right, as are all five-year-olds. I am already really old.
I finally free myself from her grasp, and she gives me one last kiss. The van door closes. She is now off to a bath. Hopefully, she will have a night of grand dreams of adventure and fun.
Finally, at home, I collapse into my chair for the evening. My old bones settle into the comfort of the chair. They are grateful for the rest.
As I reflect a little on the day, my granddaughter’s words replay in my head. The fact is that the thought of living another 3, 7, 10 or 20 years sounds like a lot of work. I may be “only” 67, but this old warhorse has a lot of hard miles.
But for my grandkids’ sake and my wife’s, I’ll keep on working these old bones as best I can. Besides, I would love to make it to both my grandchildren’s high school graduations. I mean, that’s just another fifteen years. I just have to make it to eighty-two. Oh, the tons of Epsom salt that is going to take.
The thought of living that much longer is painful. Even now, sometimes I wake up surprised when I make it through another night. Another 900-plus years is just too much to comprehend. But at least my granddaughter wants me around that long. So, for now, I will plan on living forever. After all, my granddaughter says so. I’ll take it.