Middle Age is Truly in the Middle

So as I approach 60, I find myself simultaneously guiding my two boys into true adulthood and conversing with them as adults while helping my mom deal with finances and other issues and my dad in hospice care. I found myself the other day telling my mom how to drive in an active defensive mode (she's 83) and realized that's the same thing I tell my boys.

Mind you, I'm not complaining, I tell my mom every day, "you don't need to thank me, you (and dad) were there for me every day and this is how I reciprocate." And I very much enjoy seeing my boys bloom.

I just had the realization of how I'm seeing both ends of the spectrum.

 

You really know you're old when you wish you could be 40 again.

 

My parents are gone, but my wife has a similar experience with her mother and our daughter. The funny part is how sometimes the teenager and the 81-year-old seem to take turns making exasperating, interesting decisions.

 

I turn 41 in a month. So I'm that far from wishing I could be 40 again.

 

On many levels this is true for me, but I also know that I turned 50 last month and I feel and look better than I did at 40. And I'm way happier now than I was 10 years ago.

 

I'm early in the third quarter. Lots of game left.

 

There comes a time in every man's life where the son becomes the father. I have to treat mine like a small child more often than not.

I turn 51 later this year. I actually wear 50 as a badge of honor.

 

I've actually always thought the years between 38 and 42 were the best of any -- the perfect place to stop aging, if you could. Most people are still healthy, their knees and other joints aren't complaining yet; you're older, but still on the youngish side of it, so you can still do most things that you might want to do; there's a nice balance of strength, energy and maturity, you've usually worked for a while, and probably, settled into some sort of career, and are making at least decent money, and, just generally speaking, life is good.

 

Lost my dad a bit ago, so was helping my mom plan the memorial service and funeral which culminated in giving my dad's eulogy this weekend. That led to my opening, "how do you cover 88 yrs in [my short time today]?" as to be expected, one of the most difficult things I've ever done. Highlight was connecting with my step-brother's daughter for the very first time (she's 40). As I told my brother in law, "too many funerals lately, tell your son we need more weddings."