I wrote a birthday letter that spelled out a few thoughts and ideas but wasn’t as graphic or detailed as others because it doesn’t have to be.
Can’t say I won’t write another or add to it nor will I do more her than mention it because that is just the way I am rolling now.
Pulled off a move in the garage today that reminded me though I am not who I used to be I am still very much me.
The uncivilized barbarian lives and I am certain I won’t need any ibuprofen to fool myself into believing I haven’t gotten a step closer to turning back the clock.
Old Doc Google suggests if I follow through on a few things that a couple of the irritating issues will go away or be reduced and that gets my attention.
As does the realization the time of the Virgo is now which means we’re approaching what would have been Dad’s 78th birthday.
Been told a few times recently about the things I say or do that remind others of him but you won’t see me reliving some of what he went through.
No sir, love the guy and am more stubborn but refuse to let some of those health issues grab me.
Spent four hours on a golf course but didn’t swing a club or drink with the others, though I came close.
A cold beer sounded so good and had it not been a Monday I might have been swayed.
Forty miles later I walked into my home office and realized I had other reasons not to imbibe and shrugged my shoulders, reason for not tilting one back was less important than not having done it.
Stood outside and talked guns and hunting with a group of guy and laughed when they asked me what my favorite animal to hunt is.
Didn’t make any cracks of the mighty Gefilte, king of all fish, shmatas or real life golems but I did take a big sip of my water and think about Dad and the grandfathers.
Got stories with all of them that fit the moment, except they are all gone and I am not.
Back on the course one of the guys tried to bust my chops by asking if I was uncomfortable because of the gun talk.
I told him I worked at a place in LA where they had to issue a memo telling the guys they couldn’t take their guns out in the parking lot for show-and-tell.
That is a true story, no exaggeration. I have shared it before once or twice here. It almost always comes out when someone starts spewing some silly stereotype about where I come from.
This time it led into the conversation about previous employment working as the American guy for an Israeli company. They found it kind of interesting and exotic and I found it an easy way to hold their attention and talk direct the conversation where I preferred it to go.
The grandfathers would have appreciated the sales trick there. Can’t always do it, but I was on my game and I went with it.
In some ways what really jumped out at me was being how this moment helped illustrate that I have been pretty good following Ms. Emily’s advice.
I haven’t taken advantage of every opportunity, but I have grabbed quite a few and as I have aged I have gone after more.
