TURNING 70 IS NO PIECE OF CAKE BUT...

 

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once stated, “The unexamined mine ain’t worth squat.” (my paraphrase) So, every year for the past half-decade or so I have read Charles Handy’s chapter essay entitled “A Seventieth Birthday” from his autobiography Myself and Other More Important Matters. Reading his thoughts on aging renew my hope for a full life in old age. Since Handy’s book was published when he was 73 and that he is now well into his 80s speaks well for his ability to lead a creative and contributive life when that “…fateful bar had been crossed (and) the biblical span of life completed.” (p. 203) Thus, I hope and plan on doing my share of creativity and contributions.

It is so easy for those of us in our eighth decade and older to focus more on our ailments and regrets than on our joys and dreams. Many of us old folks slip into sadness, apathy, and perhaps even despair when we think of broken relationships, wasted opportunities, and misuse of our time. Being a senior adult is definitely no piece of cake in that sense.

When I reflect back on my 70 years I do so more out of wonder than of sadness. I was fortunate to be born mid-century; that gives me a handy point of reference. My day of birth also put me in the early stages of the Baby Boom generation with the delights and baggage that affords me.

As a serious student of history, I am amazed by the historical events that have occurred. Presidents- 13, six Democrats, seven Republicans with one assassination, three near assassinations, two impeachments, and one resignation. Six major wars- Korea, Vietnam, Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Global War and two “almost” wars- the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Four major social movements- civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, and black lives matter. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

On a more personal level, I survived my childhood and teenage years. While moving at least 18 times before high school graduation seemed at the time to be harmful it did give me a unique perspective on life. Living in Oklahoma, Colorado, California (both southern and northern), and New Mexico (briefly) may not seem so “unique” to the casual observer but it is. My schools, according to evaluators, varied in quality but all of them had good teachers invested in and passionate about my learning. Educational practices that today may seem odd spurred my learning- memorizing multiplication tables, diagraming sentences, and hands-on vocational agriculture, drafting, and wood shop.

High school graduation ended the first quarter of my current life. Going to college was going to bring changes and I was underwhelming in my predictions. College brought huge changes. College first highlighted my educational gaps especially with literature, the classics, and languages. The two high schools I attended were too small to offer foreign languages and the smattering of German I acquired in middle school was not adequate. So, eventually I switched majors from political science to social studies education- no language requirement and I was still able to study history and political science, my favorite subjects. The switch paid huge dividends later in my life. College also propelled me to an adventure of life-long learning through reading and writing.

College also highlighted my spiritual gap. Living on my own for the first time revealed that I possessed no values beyond “me-ism.”  Those values left me empty and void of guidance on many of the questions and dilemmas I faced as a collegiate. Fortunately, in the second semester of my first year some campus evangelists connected with me and several weeks later I became a Christian by dedicating my life to Jesus Christ. This spiritual foundation has been rock-solid for me for the past three quarters of my life.

Finally, college highlighted my partnership gap. My decadent “me-ism” philosophy had led me to believe that I should not marry and share my life with anyone. Then shortly after my conversion to Christ I met a beautiful spunky woman with a radiant smile that I instantly knew was the “one” for me. After a brief courtship we married, and we are still married- happily. often wonder what would have happened to me that if I chosen to attend another college, had not met those campus evangelists, and had not met this beautiful spunky woman with her radiant smile. Well, I did, and I am better off in learning, faith, and love.

Being married and armed with a college degree does not guarantee one’s success in the workplace. One must add hard work and flexibility. After a very brief stint in business I enlisted in the military. I enjoyed two things about the Army- enlisting and leaving. But the real joys were the births of our two children. Having children changes a marriage and not always for the better with the stresses and strains even bright and healthy children impose on the parents. We made our share of parental mistakes both with our children and with each other. But we were committed to each other and strived to learn from our failings. And we still dearly love our now-adult children.

After the Army I was off to graduate school and then to ministry. The reality of believing that the Church is full of sinners and then experiencing that sinning is not easy to reconcile. We met and befriended some great fellow followers of Christ during that period of our lives and were also challenged by those Christians who just not seemed to “get it.” Sadly, but without regret, we left the ministry and I entered the world of consulting, writing, and preparing to enter public school education first as a teacher and then as a coach, instructional specialist, high school vice principal, and finally as an elementary school principal. Again, nothing was easy, but I was very busy. One school year I was a fulltime teacher, coaching three sports, serving part time on a church staff, and being a part time graduate student.

I am now retired. I still consult and write and serve on a state board which I currently chair. New adventures await but first I needed to reach that special day. The day began as usual as I rose early, ate a light breakfast, took my meds, and returned to bed. Then I arose again with my wife who gave me a hardy “Happy birthday!” We prepared for the day, picked up our granddaughter, and drove to Lawrence, Kansas.

In Lawrence we ate lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, toured a historical site in a nearby village, and returned to Lawrence for ice cream. Before driving home we shopped briefly. To end the day I returned birthday greeting phone calls to my son and one of my brothers. Exciting day? No. Mundane day? No. Happy Day? Yes. I had finally reached the “BIG 7-0” and was celebrating with people I love. I could not have asked for anything more.

In conclusion, turning 70 is no piece of cake but…it is not impossible and can be quite gratifying in the process. I heartily recommend it.