Last week I had a doctor’s appointment and during the course of the visit, my physician mentioned that I had what he termed “an important” birthday the previous week.
In case anyone cares or is just interested in knowing, I turned 75 a couple of weeks ago.
Curiously, he asked me if I celebrated it. I informed him I really hadn’t, that my wife was out of town on business most of that week, and that I spent the evening alone with our cat.
He seemed a little surprised that I hadn’t celebrated, noting that I now had lived three quarters of a century.
We visited a little more about it before he finished up checking me over and I left and went on about the rest of my day, first going back to work to meet my Tuesday deadline.
Since that day I’ve spent a little more time thinking about my life and feeling fortunate to be in relatively good health for a person my age.
For whatever reason, the Good Lord has allowed me to stay on this earth longer than some of my relatives and friends who had passed on by this age.
As I thought back, this year’s birthday was much different than a year ago.
Last year, some close friends hosted a large celebration attended by a number of our friends and several of our relatives, among them some of our extended family and a few of my cousins.
That was actually on the weekend before our birthdays.
My wife Pat’s birthday is on the same date as mine, it’s just that’s she younger than I am and when she’s asked is quick to point who is older.
Throughout my life, I’ve been able to experience a lot of different things. Like many others, most of those have been really good and of course life has brought many challenges.
The single most important part is family and I’m talking about from the time of my childhood through now.
Things haven’t always been perfect or even good sometimes while growing up and through my adult years, but as I really think about it and look around I wouldn’t trade my family and the experiences we have shared for anything.
I can honestly say I’ve had a good life. Are there things I would like to change? aOf course there are some. But not that many really.
I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family, a really enjoyable career and lots of good times with family and friends.