If beauty is in the eyes
of the beholder then it
appears that estimates of
an individual’s age operate in
the same manner.
Despite just having passed
the halfway point of my
seventieth decade, I have yet
to feel old _ at all. In many
respects I feel better now
than I did years ago when I
did absolutely nothing at all
to keep in any semblance of
decent physical condition.
I still run, walk, and, when
weather permits, do quite a
bit of demanding work up
here on the hill.
But pictures and mirrors
and the perceptions of others
have a not so subtle way of
reining in any disillusions one
might have as to the realities
of mortal life. Fact is, as one
ages one’s exterior belies the
biological truth.
The other day I was changing
for a run at the gym. I
gave up running the roads
several years ago because
of a tricky lower back and
irascible knees. My locker is in
the boys’ locker room. I share
a bank of lockers with several
other geezers. I am there for
two reasons: no lockers were
available in the mens’ locker
room and, perhaps the best
reason, lockers in the boys’
locker room are cheaper. I
never shy from a better deal.
Most of the time I have
the place to myself because
I get there pretty early in the
morning. On this day I had
some things to take care of
early on, so the run waited
until later afternoon. As I was
slipping on my sneakers, two
little boys came out of the
shower and one looked up
at me and said, ``This is the
boys’ locker room!’’ Cheeky
little bugger! I smiled, looked
down at him, and explained
that indeed several men did
have lockers in their hallowed
space as well. I tied my
laces and started for the door
leading to the adjacent locker
room. As I was closing the
door, I overheard the rascal
who questioned my presence
say to his friend, ``He was old,
at least one hundred years
old.’’ I resisted the temptation
to set him straight. I really
wanted to give the kid a piece
of my one-hundred-year-old
mind, but closed the door
behind me and went upstairs
to run. Clearly, it is still on my
mind.
I have been wondering
what I thought when in the
company of ancients at that
age. Nothing comes to mind.
However, looking at the situation
from the inside out, it is
clear that people’s perceptions
(and misconceptions) determine
how they act in certain
situations. I have noticed lately
that more young people tend
to refer to me as sir when, for
instance, opening a door for
me, or when I check out at the
supermarket counter. I do not
mind the sir stuff at all. I am
aware that it connotes respect
as well as a polite recognition
of advanced age. Since
the decline of civility in our
culture is but another symptom
of the moral barbarism
that characterizes the times,
any and all vestiges of a more
civilized past are welcome. I
also do not mind being asked
if I am eligible for a senior
discount, since a bargain is a
bargain and I will take it any
way I can get it.
One of the lessons of my
locker room encounter is that
whether or not one is suffering
the inevitable ill effects of
the aging process, perception
rules the day and reality
counts for little. The kid did
not know that behind that
beard lurked a sixty-six year
old just back from a threeday
cross country ski trip to
Canada, preceded by a ten
day African excursion, now to
be topped off by a three-mile
indoor track run. Best of all, it
is a hell of a good story to tell.
Meanwhile, I plod through
time ignoring the outer trappings
knowing full well that is
never the whole story.
Columns
Up on Hawthorn Hill: He must be at least 100!
- Columns
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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
The best advice given to me many years ago when I started teaching had nothing to do with my discipline, English. Rather, a former mentor insisted on the necessity of having a sense of humor
Continued ... -
The week that was ...
For a number of years now, we have not been in Cooperstown for the spring season. And we must admit that we had quite forgotten what it is like. But since we decided that travel was not on the docket for this year, we have become reacquainted with the Cooperstown spring. And we must say we rather enjoyed it with the possible exception of occasional uncalled for snow and seemingly frigid temperatures.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
Continued ... -
Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
Continued ... -
Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
Continued ... -
Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
Continued ... -
Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
Continued ... -
Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
Continued ... -
Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
Continued ... -
Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
Continued ... -
'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
Continued ... -
'Who's on Worst?' reveals the ugly in baseball
The Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players, managers and owners from our national pastime. Any of us who have watched Major League baseball have inevitably seen some of these immortals practicing their craft. But we have also likely witnessed a sample of their opposite brethren, players who shouldn't have been in the Major Leagues. Has there ever been a definitive source that "celebrates" the non-accomplishments of the worst that Major League baseball has to offer?
Continued ... -
Swallow talk and bluebird vigilance
I assume the swallows have returned to Capistrano. They have returned to Hawthorn Hill as well.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Life in Hungry has taken a turn for the better
I can truthfully say spring has finally arrived in Hungary. It's almost time to wear shorts and sandals, for summer will be just around the corner. This brings me great happiness and great sadness, my adventure is coming to a close. Really what a time it was, I don't think I can compare it to anything else.
Continued ... -
The importance of speaking up ...
Over the years we have come to understand that, in writing a weekly column, it is not possible to always please everyone. And such was the case with our column that ran at the end of March in which we wrote about our experience as in inpatient following a total hip replacement.
Continued ... -
Public schools created
The Common School Act of 1812 marked the start of New York's public school system. Much of the credit for this was due to the radical Otsego County politician Jedediah Peck (1747-1821). To quote the NY Education Department:
Continued ... -
Book takes readers on path for equal rights
One of the most troubling aspects of our history is race relations. It takes a long time to achieve true equality in a society when the heritage of one ethnic group is slavery and Jim Crow laws. Even today African Americans are more likely to be stereotyped as athletes than doctors, lawyers or entrepreneurs. The path to a "color-blind" nation is still a work in progress.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Experiencing India at every new turn
Come, sit down. Hold this and, wait ... ah, there you go. Obeying these commands, I found myself seated on the pavement, wearing a turban and attempting to make sounds out of a recorder-like instrument for the black cobras in the baskets not two feet away from me.
Continued ...
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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
