I\u2019m not sure why, but it seems like I\u2019ve gotten into the habit of updating this blog every year on, or about, my birthday. If you\u2019ve read the entries in the past, you\u2019ve probably figured out that I\u2019m not a big fan of my birthday. If you go back and check, you\u2019ll probably find phrases like, oh God, my birthday is coming up, wait, how old am I?, whoa, that\u2019s kind of old, ugh, I don\u2019t feel any different, at least it\u2019s only one day out of the year, it\u2019s been another year already? Anyhow, you get the idea \u2014it\u2019s just not my favorite day\u2026.<\/p>\n
So, if it\u2019s not my favorite day, is it really an appropriate occasion to celebrate? Lots of people I know (probably most) look forward to their birthday and wouldn\u2019t think of not celebrating it. I\u2019m thinking, when one gets real old each year, maybe it would be better to stand back and contemplate rather than celebrate. Contemplate means to look thoughtfully for a long time or think profoundly and at length\u2026 so you can contemplate about anything, but as you get really old, contemplation on your birthday usually goes along the lines of, has life been kind to me, or have I lived a life full of happiness and achievements? I think it would be interesting to ask a lot of different people, especially older people, what they thought of their lives. I bet that would make a great paper for a high school or college English class\u2026<\/p>\n
Every birthday is a reminder of how time has and continues to pass. Time now seems to fly by at a tremendous speed. When I was young, 10 years seemed like so far into the future it was incomprehensible. Now 10 years\u2026. I\u2019ve heard time compared to a roll of toilet paper. When the roll is new, and you start pulling the paper, you will notice the whole roll is moving and the rate of rolling is very slow. When the roll is almost finished, then the rate of rolling is very fast and if you continue to pull, it will stop in no time because there is no toilet paper anymore\u2026 same with life.<\/p>\n
As the blog faithful know, I\u2019m somewhat fascinated by a lot of Chinese traditions. According to ancient Chinese tradition, only the elders celebrate birthdays. In the traditional Chinese family structure, the patriarch or matriarch was head of the family hierarchy and only they<\/em> could celebrate their birthdays. And they had good reason to celebrate \u2014 to invite guests and relatives to witness the success and harmony of their family unit. So maybe I should<\/em> celebrate my \u201cold-age\u201d birthdays\u2026<\/p>\n Each day I thank my good fortune for being healthy and still kicking. The two things I\u2019m most thankful for is my good health and my forever tolerant wife. Ok, three things, my kids, oh, four things my grandkids, and my friends\u2026 and living in West Virginia\u2026 and ok, I\u2019m thankful for everything. I guess I\u2019ve talked myself into this celebration thing\u2026. only it seems wrong only to celebrate a birthday. I think I\u2019ll try to \u201ccelebrate\u201d constantly \u2014 not just once a year. If you doubt me, check back here next year, maybe I\u2019ll give you a status report. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019m not sure why, but it seems like I\u2019ve gotten into the habit of updating this blog every year on, or about, my birthday. If you\u2019ve read the entries in the past, you\u2019ve probably figured out that I\u2019m not a … Continue reading
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n