Here I am, according to stats I THINK I am an old man!

Yep, it is that time of year again.  Some wise old man once said "old men dream dreams".  I looked up the life expectancy of males in the U. S. and it is 76.6 years.  So IF I am average I have 3.6 more years of life and tennis left AND woodworking.  BUT I look at family like John M and he will be 84 this year (I might add on July 11-I got that correct John) which means he is WAY above average!  Dad also lived well into his 80s so maybe, just maybe, I am justified in thinking my wood shop and the tennis courts may be my domain for many more years.  On the court I have gotten smarter, really!  If you don't believe me just call me up and ask!!!  Well here is how I know.  When I turned 70 the kids gave me a Fitbit which I wear when I play tennis.  In 2017 I would regularly take 6000-7000 steps while I played tennis for 90 minutes.  Now while I think I get to as many balls as I did back then I usually take 3500-5000 steps in 90 minutes.  Why?  Well of course I play smarter and move more without the ball which means I do not have to run after so many shots.  Please keep in mind I said nothing about playing better, just playing smarter.  However I also will claim that I am a MUCH better player now than 3 years ago!  

So here I am an old man who struggles with a mind that often forgets or refuses to admit that he is old.  Some of my problems that are self inflicted but NOT all:

• I tend to take maybe 2-4 naps a week.  I know some people would say, "How is that a problem?"  Well how can one get anything done when you are sleeping.  Nobody could argue that!
• On the tennis court I sometimes beat myself up for not getting to the shot.  Well the truth is one moves a bit slower at 73 than at 25.  Oh, I forgot that I did not play tennis at 25.
• I exercise too little and eat too much.  I know, that is a self inflicted problem that should be solvable but....
• Sometimes I forget when I am getting on my bike.  NOW I need to tilt the bike, lift my leg over the seat and then start BUT at times I forget and the YOUNG way is to put your foot on a pedal,  push off and lift your leg over the seat as you start.  Well the problem with that is IF you don't lift your leg high enough to get it over the seat your pants catch and you are in big trouble.  Guess how I know that!
• Now days I tend to wake up several times during the night.  I think that may be an issue with old people.  I thought about working harder which would mean my body would be more tired but I actually ruled that out as a bad idea.
• Well here is a problem that is NOT of my doing.  I have a hearing loss.  That means those darn hearing aids need to be working so I know what is going on around me.  Well when I think of it the hearing loss can be good too.  At Grandma Saunders funeral this Saturday there could be as many as 60+ grand children and great grand children--I may turn my aids off!
• AND those darn, double darn pills.  As one ages it seems they multiple by the year.  Actually I should not complain as Drs. tell us those pills give us a longer life but really they are a pain in the wrong place as taking them means you have to remember!  I wonder how many of us remember Dad taking those Doan pills out of the green metal container.  I think they were for his back.
• AND one must talk about those old age aches and pains.  There is spondylolisthesis (and some people think I can't spell--google helps!) that sometimes tells me I had better be careful.  If there is a pain in my lower leg and my toes curl I know I need to back away!  Oh, the ankle that every once in a while just sort of caves a bit.  Not to the point of falling but just telling my body to be careful.  The right knee, sometimes it wakes me up at night just to say "Hi".  AND that right shoulder, my goodness sometimes I think I may not be able to play tennis but then I get on the court and it some how doesn't hurt.  The lower back, oh my sometime the ache cries for some relief.  So life goes on and on with sometimes small and sometimes not so small reminders that you can run from a lot of things but not from aging.
• I think I could come up with several more problems but why?  Life is good and to prove it here are some reasons I am so blessed:
• seven great kids and in laws
• 14 grandchildren
• a wonderful wife
• a home that is paid for
• the ability to enjoy physical activity
• great friends
• 3 super siblings and 5 extra special in laws
• living in St. Paul in the summer and Naples in the winter is wonderful
• I am by no means close to rich but I can have what I need
• a mind that still works very good (my opinion)
• a shop that gives me much pleasure
• AND MUCH MORE

So here I am, at the ripe old age of 73 and still looking forward to much more in the future.  I look forward to more travel, more home project (maybe less of this) , walks on the beach and rides on the bike, family time, MORE TENNIS TIME, and much more.  

At times like this I often think of Grandpa Saunders and how he died of ALS.  Lord I know you have plans and I know much of how we live our life is in OUR hands BUT please please spare me from ALS.  I promise I will do my very best to accept what comes BUT...

So here it is close to 7:30.  I had my ham and eggs, I had my FP so now I will get on the bike (leg over before I start) and watch a bit of tennis before I play at 10:30  I really should have ground some KONA for my FP this morning but thought I would save it for another time--maybe when I turn 74!