By RAY DAY
Tribune guest columnist
November 01, 2007 11:35 pm
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Today, I give to you some of my thoughts, and I hope you don’t think this old man has fallen off his rocker.
I picked up a 10 pound bag of taters and it felt like 20 pounds. Man, talk about a good deal. But when I cooked them, it was like there were only 10 pounds.
I went up some stairs that seemed like there was 50 steps but only 13, but higher than the last time I climbed them.
I went to the mailbox and someone must of moved the street because I had to stop and rest before walking the rest of the way. And then I had to make the trip back to the house. While there at the mailbox, I looked toward my neighbor’s home, who must of moved farther down because the house was sort of blurry to my eyes. My neighbor was coming out and said hello and waved, but I couldn’t hear the words. I got closer, but I still couldn’t hear him. So we nodded and went into our homes. I guess maybe I should hone up on my lip-reading skills.
The other day I noticed that the hair that is left on my head is getting gray and white. Funny thing is, a lot of my friends are looking younger than me and sometimes they don’t even recognize me. I guess I should tell them I can’t remember their names, but that might show my age. Matter of fact, the person I saw in the mirror didn’t seem to be me, but who could it be?
At the store, it seemed that everyone was walking faster than I was, and I thought they would find out one day about getting old. One of the ladies who passed me stopped and asked me if I was “Uncle Ray,” and I told her yes. She said that I knew a lot about the old days for my age. She said she just hit 90 years of age. She said she had to finish her shopping and get home to fix her supper. A little later, I saw her heading toward the cashier. I am still shopping and this lady of 90 has finished and headed home. Maybe walking to the mailbox earlier in the day must of worn me out, and thoughts of needed rest were on my mind.
Backing out, I almost hit some people who were in such a hurry. Seems like everyone is going so fast these days. What are they going to do when they get old?
Heading out onto the bypass, the drivers are greeting me a welcome to the road, and some got close enough to speak to me, although I couldn’t hear them. And on the bypass, as I was traveling at the speed limit, everyone was passing me. At the stoplight they were waiting for the light change. Man, they did a lot of good passing me, burning up gas and now sitting there while little old me is coming along side.
Oh well, one of these days they will be driving like me, if they stay alive, and they will say the same thing about the other drivers.
One good thing about getting old is that most will take what you say and laugh about it because old is senile and young is comfortable in their eyes. But one day they will be like me, and then the scales will lie to them and their tummies will stick out as one more meal is eaten. Their clothes will seem to shrink, and their arms will get shorter. The eyes will seem to not do as good a job of seeing, and the ears will have some defect.
But, getting old isn’t really that bad as the memories are still making me smile, and with age comes respect, and our lives here will one day end with a reward of eternal life in Heaven.
So while shaving and combing those thin strands of hair, I think to myself that the man on the other side smiling at me looks pretty good for his age. Life is too short to worry, so have fun living. See you next week if I’m still here.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day can be reached by e-mail at arermdrd@netusa1.net
or uncleray@skyenet.net
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Ray Day
Tribune guest columnist