I had just gotten out of a nursing home, where I’d been recovering from a devastating illness that left me with mobility problems. A walker and a cane had become my constant companions. You’d think that would have been enough to make me face reality, but I still resisted the idea that I was becoming an old man.

After all, thousands of people over 70 are still working full time. They’re not old. They’re “seasoned.”

If 70 is “seasoned,” then 75 is cured like a Smithfield ham! It’s no wonder so many people consider 75 a milestone birthday. After all, you’ve lived through three-quarters of a century. And if your goal is to reach 100, well, you’re already three-quarters of the way there!

So, how do I feel now that I’m 81?

Old! That’s how I feel. Turning 80 was a shock, but 81 has brought home the reality that I’m getting older, whether I like it or not.

I’m well past the biblical three score and ten, and I’m learning that getting older is a very personal experience. Some days I feel pretty good. Other days, my body reminds me that I’m not the person I was 20 or even 10 years ago.

Then I turn on the news and hear about another well-known American in their 80s who has died. Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and most recently, Mike Ditka come to mind. They all seemed to be in better shape than I am. It’s a sobering reminder that none of us knows how much time we have left.

Scary, huh? I suspect I’m not alone in feeling this way. Getting older means dealing with changes in our bodies, wondering what lies ahead, and trying to make the most of the time we have. We may joke about being old, but deep down, many of us are still trying to figure out what growing old really means….bwc