Yes, I’m approaching 50 and the math overwhelms me. Half-century sounds old – maybe by it’s nature, maybe by words. We associate century with old things. We speak of antigues in this manner. It’s a half-century old brings oohs and ahhs from a crowd. But not from people. A half-century person is just an old guy. Where’s the value in that piece of information? Just like the mist ghosting around the river, it’s here and gone and who cares? We might acknowledge it briefly, even walk its trails in wonder but then it passes. Ho-hum, it’s gone.
But as my birthday approaches (at approximately 8:48am my mother reminds me.) I think about the last century. The minutes clicking away and moments disappearing one thought comes to mind. It’s the same thought I onced asked my boss. I asked the so-what question. What impact have I made? Did you receive your money’s worth? At work, it’s easy to answer (Or easier) because I can point to various documents, detachments, assessments, etc, that I’ve been privy to. Never mind the scores of mindless minutes I’ve attended. But here, here at the end of 50 years, what really do I have? My daughter is grown. I’ve tried to impart the best to her. What have I taught her? Is she ready to be an adult? Maybe a bigger question (Or better) could I had really changed her. She will have to discover her own path as I did. I must make that way clear for her – some how. Yes, I have the same wish – that I had this wisdom at twenty. But what would be twenty without the will, the ability to make those mistakes. That is what the age is all about- the exploring is what life is about – (I’m convincing myself at this point, aren’t I?) So, there is one question left, right?
What does the next twenty or thirty years bring? If I have that long. There are no guarantees. I could barely finish this missive and pass on. Will I do better or will I continue waste time and act like an errant school boy on dirty dog summer days? I still feel like that boy. I really do.
Ok, so it’s been over two years. Life is so mysterious. It swallows time whole with great gulps and never looks around. And thus my life has been. At 52, I’m wondering about 62. Anyone else at this point? I’m watching others and wonder how they’ll be at my age. Others are probably wondering the same thing about me no doubt. 
Fine Poetry 