My Happy Birthday

By the time anyone reads this it’ll be over but as I’m writing, it’s my birthday. My 49th birthday to be exact. Not that the number is too important. It’s not like a big milestone or anything.

I should preface this with clarifying that I had a good day and I really didn’t mind the events as much as this post might make it sound...  It started with being awakened by my two-year-old grandson. When he learned it was my birthday, he was ready for a party and extremely disappointed when we told him I wasn’t having one. “I will give you a party,” he said. I explained that after people get older they really don’t get gifts and have a party; that we do that for kids. The look he gave me said he thought that was not a very good plan but he went with it.

Later, one of my daughters, and an “adopted” daughter, announced their plans to take me to lunch. But first, my wife wanted to make a quick trip to the store. Everyone—except me—went with her; I stayed home to wait. That was taking quite a chance, women and shopping, you know!

But true to their word, they returned just a few minutes later. It was then I learned how my day was going to go.

In the back of the vehicle was a big box. Apparently, my wife had found a deal—a motorized kid’s car. The price tag said it was regularly $149.99 but it had been on sale. And at just $37.00, my wife couldn’t pass it up. She was happy she’d been able to make the purchase.

But me, I saw immediately what was printed on the box: “Contains 71 parts. Requires assembly.” The reason it was so cheap because the rest of the husbands had gone with their wives to the store and said, “Don’t buy that.” But I wasn’t there to issue the words of caution.

So, after a nice meal, we returned home and I set to work. The task went about as expected for a Made in China product; deciphering directions, figuring out what they meant by phrases like “the fastener,” and then figuring out how to really put it together when what they had didn’t work.

The process took about two and a half hours! But I did get it done and yes, it runs! Unfortunately, my grandson had to leave before it was finished. He’ll be back Monday evening and I’m sure he’ll be running the battery dead—about four hours according to the specifications. The bad part is, I’ll be at work. The good news is, my wife will be home and it will fall to her to chase the kid driving the car, until the battery gives out—in an estimated four hours! But maybe then she’ll reconsider next time she sees something to buy that requires assembly!

Oh, before my grandson left he felt compelled to inform me that even though I’d said I wouldn’t be getting presents, I DID get one—the car! I said the car was his. He so sweetly replied, “But YOU get to put it together!” Yeah. Happy Birthday to me! ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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New Age

This past week, I successfully completed another year. (Stole that line from my son). Forty-eight years old now. Where does the time go? Well, from what I can determine, I think it goes... by—one day at a time. Put a few thousand days together and before you know it, years have ticked away.

It’s a sad realization to think there are more people younger than I in the world, than people older than I am. But that doesn’t mean life is over. Can’t be. I still have a lot of things to do.

I remember when I was a kid, envisioning this time of my life—having grown kids and grandkids—seemed like a far off thing. A someday thing. But almost unfathomable. I couldn’t really even imagine it. Yet, here I am.

Okay, having birthdays is nothing special—most everybody has one now and then. But I do have a few observations about growing older. First, whoever said life begins at forty, apparently forgot about being young. You know, back when energy was plentiful, sleep wasn’t required, and manual labor didn’t involve sore muscles and aching bones? Second, and perhaps more important, the world continually changes, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. More and more, I look at people and shake my head.  I just do not relate to them. And not only younger people. A lot of people. It’s like they are from another planet. I guess I’m just an old-fashioned thinking person. One that refuses to change. Or, maybe I’m just aging.

Admittedly, forty-eight isn’t all that old. And I don’t really feel that old. I’ve always told my kids I’m going to live to be one hundred fifty, so I’m not even a third of the way there! Over one hundred years to go! But I have noticed I’m slowing down. A little. It takes a bit longer to do what used to be simple things, like climbing hills or stairs, mowing the lawn, or well, just about anything requiring physical exertion. For example, I used to jump out of my truck (my semi) every time I got out. I don’t do that anymore, it’s a long ways to the ground! Don’t get in so fast these days either.

There’s a reason for all that too. My well being! Because, I’m working on successfully completing another year.

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders also serves as the Vice-President of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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The Birthday Conundrum

The problem with birthdays is, they tend to make you older. The problem with not having birthdays is, well, I’m sure you can figure that out. Having birthdays, or not having them, one thing is for certain; no one is getting any younger. Profound, I know!

As you may have guessed, last week, I celebrated another anniversary of the day of my birth. (You really can only ever have one actual birthday).

My son called to wish me a happy birthday, and like many others, asked if I felt older – and that got me to thinking. I know, we’re all in trouble when I start the process of pondering these things! The answer to his question was no, I didn’t really feel older. I don’t really consider myself to be old. And that sometimes leads to problems.

How could that be a problem?

Well, I still think of myself as 20 years old, and still think I can do all the things I did then. And keep up the same life-style. There are still 24 hours in the day and I like to stay busy, oh, about 24 of them. My brain and body used to cooperate but lately, it’s a different story. Now, there is a war of sorts. My brain says, “Who needs sleep? Go for it.” But the rest of me has started objecting. So, while I may think I’m 20, at times my body feels like it’s pushing 80. That is definitely a problem.

So, I guess the full answer to the question is, I don’t feel older – it’s hard to feel older when you already feel 80!

But I don’t think I could change – even if I wanted to. For me, any amount of time spent sleeping, or some other passive activity, is time wasted – nothing gets done. I’m pretty sure no one on their deathbed ever said, “I wish I would have slept more.” No, it’s usually that they wish they had done more. And so, that’s what I’m doing – more. I’m told it’s unhealthy and may shorten my life, that I could run short of birthdays. That may be true. As I mentioned, that is one of the problems with birthdays - when they run out.

I guess if I have my choice I’ll go with just getting older. Somehow though, I don’t think it’s up to me. On one hand, I might see well over a hundred birthdays. Or, maybe I’ll be the first to say, “I should have slept more.”

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Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on Apple®, Amazon®, Barnes & Noble, Kobo®, Diesel Books®, and Smashwords®, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Bruce A. Borders also serves as the Vice President of Rave Reviews Book Club http://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com