Geturdone
Getting old ain't for sissies
- Dec 9, 2021
- 85
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate this event. Personally, I spent part of this chilly Texas morning outside listening to the birds, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes I always lie to my doctors about and reading.
The last article read, which prompted this post, was about notable people who died this year. Some famous and some infamous. It reminded me, while I've essentially planned the details of how I want to die, I've given little thought to how I want to be remembered. I've made assumptions, especially with regard to my daughters, that may be wrong.
I've had the chance to witness a lot of history in my life, things the youngest of you may have never heard of, much less experienced. But, you are all lucky enough to have your own history to memorialize.
I can recall, after buying my first car, I purchased gasoline at the outrageous price of 17 cents per gallon. I remember there were two high schools where I lived. One for whites and one for blacks. I can still remember the school assembly called to announce our school would soon be getting a black student who had the tremendous courage to take a bus across town to attend a school with students very much unlike himself.
I remember enlisting in the military as a means of attending college thru the GI Bill, ultimately being sent to a search and rescue unit in Monterey, California. I remember seeing Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix and many others at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. I remember the love of that summer, in San Francisco that same year. I remember reading about the violence that took place in Chicago the next year during the Republican National Convention and how the "establishment" turned against the youth who lead this country today. All while experiencing another type of violence from my tour of duty in Vietnam and upon coming home, not to parades, waving flags or greetings from grateful crowds but a deserted airport, at midnight, simply to avoid protesters to the war that was so very, very unpopular.
I could go on and on and on about the events that shaped my life but can't we all. Today, I'm pondering the fact this is my last Christmas. I care not about Christmas necessarily, but I'm somewhat sad when I consider it's my LAST. Last New Years as well as many other things that have become last.
Here's where I'm going even if it's taking me a while to get there; what makes for a a great obituary? During the course of writing this post I've thought about things that I'd include in mine. Several things not included here even. Some of you may care less about an obituary, but for those of you who do what would you want it to say about YOU?
Peace be with you all.
The last article read, which prompted this post, was about notable people who died this year. Some famous and some infamous. It reminded me, while I've essentially planned the details of how I want to die, I've given little thought to how I want to be remembered. I've made assumptions, especially with regard to my daughters, that may be wrong.
I've had the chance to witness a lot of history in my life, things the youngest of you may have never heard of, much less experienced. But, you are all lucky enough to have your own history to memorialize.
I can recall, after buying my first car, I purchased gasoline at the outrageous price of 17 cents per gallon. I remember there were two high schools where I lived. One for whites and one for blacks. I can still remember the school assembly called to announce our school would soon be getting a black student who had the tremendous courage to take a bus across town to attend a school with students very much unlike himself.
I remember enlisting in the military as a means of attending college thru the GI Bill, ultimately being sent to a search and rescue unit in Monterey, California. I remember seeing Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix and many others at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. I remember the love of that summer, in San Francisco that same year. I remember reading about the violence that took place in Chicago the next year during the Republican National Convention and how the "establishment" turned against the youth who lead this country today. All while experiencing another type of violence from my tour of duty in Vietnam and upon coming home, not to parades, waving flags or greetings from grateful crowds but a deserted airport, at midnight, simply to avoid protesters to the war that was so very, very unpopular.
I could go on and on and on about the events that shaped my life but can't we all. Today, I'm pondering the fact this is my last Christmas. I care not about Christmas necessarily, but I'm somewhat sad when I consider it's my LAST. Last New Years as well as many other things that have become last.
Here's where I'm going even if it's taking me a while to get there; what makes for a a great obituary? During the course of writing this post I've thought about things that I'd include in mine. Several things not included here even. Some of you may care less about an obituary, but for those of you who do what would you want it to say about YOU?
Peace be with you all.
