Last Evening I attended my 65th year High School Reunion... This morning, I penned the following to one my classmates and thought maybe some of you older folks could relate.
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August 3, 2024


Last evening was an enjoyable time, but much too short. I am gravely saddened. I know there is more ahead of us... but what lies ahead is completely unknown until the final hour.

Our eulogy is what lies behind us. What we do from now on will hardly be noticed by time, or those we leave behind. It is fool hardy to believe there is nothing but joy and happiness ahead, while we are still able to traverse these days, weeks, months and hopefully years ahead.

Our seeds were planted many years ago. Some yielded joy and happiness, while others left us with sorrow and hurt. What good therefore, can we hope for in the short future.

The voices of the old are no longer looked at as decades of experience, but as trivial ventures that impede what lies ahead. Youth no longer embrace us but mocks and scorns what has built the better life they now enjoy.

As we trod this final path, may we hope it will not be too cumbersome. We will hold our heads up high and cast a light that all will be drawn to. We will welcome them to come to us, not as foes, but as friends. We will be willing to mentor all that ask for direction and knowledge, that only we can give them. Some of us may have only one light of truth to show and others of us may have many. But numbers here do not count... It is the illumination that we give.

We have now leafed through the pages of time and reached the point of today... Will we face it as we have faced the past, with our heads up high? Will we be able to endure the pain that has inflicted us? Those are the questions we must ask ourselves... Today!

May the Good Lord watch over us as we follow his path.

Garry-

Reminds of a Sunday sermon.
Thanks for sharing. I have a hard time putting my thought into written words. You have a gift for it.

Well written, Garry. The future to ponder.

Don’t get too downtrodden. There are still good young people out there who have a genuine love for their elders and what they have to say, even without the benefit of gaining something.

Some of our dearest friends are 20-30 years older than Chuckie and I.
We would rather spend time with them than those of our own age

When I was growing up and still to this day I've been blessed to have knowledgeable old men and one old woman who took the time to share their considerable knowledge and wisdom with me. I am eternally grateful. Talking to and learning from a wise older person, who is an expert in what I am interested in, has long been one of my favorite pastimes.

As I've gotten older and hopefully wiser, I've had 5 young men seek me out as their mentor. I am proud to have become like the people who have helped me become me.

Garry, there are still young people out there who would like to learn from you and your experiences. You just need to make yourself available to them. I suggest helping with some of Ohio's hunting and trapping youth programs.

Keith

“Do not regret growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.” Mark Twain.

Thank you all for reading and nice comments.

Garry-