“Do you want to feel old?”
The social media posts of past highlights of our aging lives raised a sad question. Do I want to feel like an old geezer? Not really. Does anyone? Can we allow myself to feel young today? Maybe let me think I’m still in my 20s? That would be nice. It sounds pretty painless. I wouldn’t have to cough as much or go to the bathroom as often. Yes, 25 would be a nice age to feel right now.
Still, the possibility of feeling old was tempting, as the deployment offered an opportunity to refresh memories.
“Bonanza premiered 64 years ago.”
It was one of my favorite TV shows. But my memories of it are becoming more and more disappointing. All the stars are dead. Even Little Joe, who seemed so young when I was a kid. The last of the Cartwrights left this world in 1987. That doesn’t make me feel old. It makes me feel almost dead.
I was making my way into what might well be the afterlife. Eternity is apparently full of things to remember, but which remind you that many of the things you liked in life are two generations or so behind you.
The second entry on the list, posted on DoYouRemember.com’s 1960s Memories Facebook page, evoked a similar sentiment. “The Beatles broke up 54 years ago.”
Two of them are no longer with us, so that didn’t help. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and a train is coming my way.
“Elvis has been dead for 46 years. Today he would be 88,” said another entry on the list. Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin have been dead for 53 years. John Lennon has been dead for 43 years.”
A disturbing trend is developing. We all have to go sometime. It was nice meeting you.
Favorite TV shows are ancient
“The Mustang is 59.”
OK, before any of you contact me to correct the age of this article and the ones above: I already know. A comment under the post alerted me to the age differences.
“The Mustang came out in 1964, making it 60 years old,” the commenter said, noting that the list appears to have been compiled sometime in 2023. “Add a year to each of those values.”
Done. And damn it. Now I’m even older.
“Laugh-In premiered almost 56 years ago.”
Give me one, like the people on the show said.
“Three Girls and Three Boys premiered 54 years ago,” the article said, and “the triplets in ‘My Three Sons’ would also be 54 years old.”
“Tabitha from Bewitched is 59.”
The smiling child is no longer a child. Neither are we.
“The Ed Sullivan Show ended 51 years ago.”
All four Beatles, including the two who are no longer around, began their careers in America with Ed Sullivan. I was in primary school at the time.
The completion of eighth grade was several decades ago.
Feel a moment of rejuvenation
One of my favorite sports cars is also old.
“The Corvette turned 70 this year.”
As I said, make it 71.
Back to the Future is 39 years old, while Saturday Night Fever is 46. Can disco really be that far away? It’s time to ditch my shiny floral shirt and leisure suit.
Mickey Mantle retired 55 years ago.
He’s gone now too. And I miss him. That should make me sad.
But I smile at the fond memory of watching the Commerce Comet play as a boy or listening to its games on a transistor radio.
As it turns out, some things don’t make you feel old. They help you feel young again.
Reach Gary at [email protected]. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.
