Wasn’t it just yesterday when
it was a palindromic date
8448
Now it’s pivoted on its head
and it doesn’t change.
69
Rotate it 180 upside down
69
Capsized
After all these years
Head up-
or rotate toes to the top
180 degrees- Bottoms up or down
It’s still 69.
In case you still have time to get a present, here are some famous people whose birthday is today. An eclectic bunch, I would say:
Not quite 49 when she died, today would be her 100th birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.
-Aristotle
Today's the day.
It's just two weeks away- the Big Birthday.
I decided NOT to do the 130 Miles for 65 (or Century+) Bike ride. No, I didn't chicken out. I realized it was unfair to two people- me and my wife.
#1- Me because it would actually take three days out of my vacation when I have a bunch of things I want to see and do, and most of them (nearly all, in fact) are not on the bike trail. One of those is to spend some neat time with my wife that week.
Which leads to #2- My Wife. She would be sitting around waiting 4 - 6 hours while I roll along the Minnesota countryside. Instead WE could be at the zoo, the Science Museum seeing the Maya exhibit, the Art museum, eating at a Thai restaurant, or... See what I mean?
So, Plan B is in the mix now. It includes one day of biking along the Lake Wobegon Trail then doing the neat things in the Cities followed by some day trips. Food, too. Mexican, Thai, who knows what else.
And, for me, at the end of August, I'm taking some time to go to a trumpet boot camp in the Cities to really work my lip and embouchure into shape. I will be playing in the pit at the Rochester Civic Theater in September and October and need some work on getting ready.
I think that will do much to get me through the 65th birthday.
I waited a couple extra days to post this so you wouldn't think I was just foolin' around.
Some of you may remember my 60th birthday five years ago. I did something I had often dreamed of doing- traveling the whole length of the Pine Creek Gorge in Central Pennsylvania where I grew up.When I was young it was the New York Central (Penn Central, then Conrail) railroad line. The Pine Creek Valley is one of those wondrous places where the power of God's natural world can't be missed.
Well, it is now a Rail Trail. (Link) It's easier to travel the whole length now than it would have been when I was growing up. So I did. I planned my 60 Miles for 60 Years bike trip in August, 2008. (Music Video Link). I had never done a long bike trip before. I trained on and off for a couple years and then, with my brother's bike, I started in the north and headed downstream with the Creek. Over two days I made my 60 mile pilgrimage.
Well, another milestone is in four months. (See sidebar for exact days, hours, minutes.) This one is 65 years. Time for something new. At one point I had hoped to make a 300 km bike pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain but the small problem of costs has prevented that. (Hopefully just a postponement until after retirement.) Something else had to take its place.
Enter my dear wife of almost 41 years. "Why don't we take a long weekend and you can do some biking on the trails here in Minnesota." (Lightbulb going on!)
Sure! Why not?
So I started some looking and found a wonderful Rail Trail in Central Minnesota. The Lake Wobegon Trail along with two other connecting trails, make up a ride of about 120 miles. A century ride. No, it won't be in one day. It will probably be over three days around my birthday. I'll ride and my wife will do other things and meet me at day's end with the car.
I can't think of a reason not to do it. I am in great biking shape, even now without any outdoor rides yet. Rail trails are fun, mostly flat and often in scenic places with neat things to see (like bridges over rivers, wildlife, etc.) Makes sense.
So here it is. The official announcement.
The pmPilgrim Century+ Ride for 65 years.
Or perhaps The pmPilgrim Medicare Century+ Ride since I will be eligible for Medicare.Watch for more information and my preparations.
It used to be that special ages like Sweet Sixteen or turning 21 were milestones. As you got older it was the decades, your 30s, etc. Finally you reached 65 and you were over the hill.
Well, in the mid-60s that British Band, the Beatles, changed all that with a cute little ditty, When I'm 64. That great tag line has rung through the baby-boomers' years:
Will you still need me?Well, it has arrived for this Baby Boomer. Today. When I'm 64.
Will you still feed me?
When I'm 64?
