64? Is that old?

Middle aged?  

When I was 20 I thought that 50 was very old. Funny how, as we go along, we push the boundary ahead of us. One year to go and I'll be drawing my UK pension!

Never thought I'd see that day, especially 5 years ago.

You remember Mary Hopkin's song in the 60's, 'Those were the days my friend'? 

Have you ever taken time to read the lyrics…

Once upon a time there was a tavern

Where we used to raise a glass or two

Remember how we laughed away the hours

And dreamed of all the great things we could do

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end

We'd sing and dance forever and a day

We'd live the life we choose

We'd fight and never lose

For we were young and sure to have our way.

Then the busy years went rushing by us

We lost our starry notions on the way

If by chance I'd see you in the tavern

We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend.....

Just tonight I stood before the tavern

Nothing seemed the way it used to be

In the glass I saw a strange reflection

Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
.....

Through the door there came familiar laughter

I saw your face and heard you call my name

Oh my friend we're older but no wiser

For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end

We'd sing and dance forever and a day

We'd live the life we choose

We'd fight and never lose

Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

La la la la...

 

This song is not about lost love, it's about life; living and growing older. I think anyone can relate in time to these lyrics. The bravado of youth, it's endless possibilities tempered by life's realities, till one day we stop and look back with this heartfelt nostalgia and wonder how we got to this place in time. 

We don't stay there in that mind frame though, we recognise that hope springs eternal, we don't give up on our dreams, we are here, we live, we enjoy! That's what I'm doing now. My Father died over 20 years ago, and the rest of the family were wiped out in an 'explosion', shortly after the death of my Mother, on my birthday 3 years ago. But life goes on and it's an adventure full of wonderful people waiting to meet. 

I love my children and grandchildren, they are what's left one day, and that pleases me. 

I often say to my wife Beverley, "I see you Beverley". I'm telling her that I see the beautiful person who has always been there since they were a child, the person we all still feel we are, the one who has always been there, but others don't see.