Reminds me of working on my motorcycles....."Why won't you start damn you!"
Every year it's the same old thing. I get a call on my birthday from my old pals Ray and Lloyd. In a cheerful voice they say, "Hi Matt, this is Ray and Lloyd from Sander's Funeral Home! We want to wish you a very happy birthday. Remember, we're always here if you need us!" This would be great except Ray and Lloyd just happen to own one of our local funeral homes in the city, Sander's Funeral Home. My friend Brian said don't make them made or they might bury you with a little something extra. Like maybe a banana in your butt!
I was contemplating a dark subject the other day. Death. There could be several reasons for this. First, I can't deny I'm getting older. I'm facing the reality of having to kick some of my old bad habits, but the signs are all around me. Let's break it down:
1. Family. My father has passed away, and my daughters have their own lives and careers. My oldest has a child of her own. My mom is in good health and aging gracefully at 79. It's apparent we are noticeably older. I don't "spring" out of bed quite like I used to. The healing process, whether hangover or hangnail takes just a little bit longer to heal.
2. Dating. Now I am just starting to re-enter this arena. Historically I dated women about a decade younger than myself. This wasn't because I had anything to prove, it just seems that I have yet to find someone with the level of energy I still maintain. So far, women near my age are set in their ways and dating me means trying to fit my ADHD brain into a rigorous schedule. Maybe I will be "doomed" to face the obvious. I won't say doomed to be alone because I fit into most crowds easily. If you have a long career with great responsibility or children still at home you may have no other choice. Still, it seems you have to determine the amount of interaction you require. Either you are content with the scheduled "booty call" or you actually have enough interaction to have a friendship (or just old fashioned conversation) as well as a physical connection. No matter how many "profiles" I read online saying how much fun people want to have, I don't seem to be meeting many people actually willing to HAVE fun.
3. Passing Friends. People I grew up with are dying. I accompanied high school friends to attend a funeral of one of the most popular girls of my high school years. Cheerleader, Prom Queen, if it involved being cool and beautiful she won. She dated every manager she ever had and ultimately married an abusive, controlling spouse that put her on the road to destruction. She died paranoid and alone as a result of her addictions, even though she had the support of her family. An experience like that changes you. Hardly twenty people attended the funeral. As I looked around the chapel, I remembered the army of suitors that chased her in high school and college and yes, I was in line too. Very sad.
3. It's a Mad World. Things are changing in our society. Government is beginning to intrude on almost every aspect of our lives. Let's face it, when a state starts to tell you what size soft drink you can have, we have a problem. Personally, I would be more concerned about citizens' mental health. We are creating a society of total narcissists that think the world owes them respect they haven't earned. I think mandatory military service could solve that. I have never seen so many people cry over such trivial things in my life. We had much thicker skin years ago and tended to mind our own business. It is a very selfish thought, but I often think with the time I have left, the world can only get so bad!
Enough bad stuff! As they say, the only thing that is constant is change. They say live every day like it's your last and as a motorcycle enthusiast it's a philosophy I live by. Of course it's that passion for a hobby that made me late for a blind date the other day. Not good. You never get that second change to make a first impression! But you have to think positive. There are evidently many lonely middle age women out there. I just hope I can find one that can fit me into her busy schedule.
Of course I could just cruise the Social Security Office next to my employer. Recipients get younger all the time!


























