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No Longer Young<br />
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules<br />
Inside every older person is a younger<br />
person – wondering what the hell happened.<br />
I used to smile whenever<br />
comic legend and my “uncle” Marty Allen would<br />
say that. And this month I realized (although<br />
still not ready to accept) that such old man is<br />
now me.<br />
To my dismay, in <strong>August</strong>, yours truly becomes<br />
a “septuagenarian.” That’s 70 years, seven<br />
decades of life.<br />
It must be my age, but I am constantly<br />
surprised when I look in the mirror and exclaim,<br />
“Who is that guy?” I’ve become my father – or<br />
even grandfather.<br />
What happened to that young man with the giant afro and skinny<br />
frame? How did that abundant head of hair disappear replaced with a<br />
larger torso?<br />
I admit I’ve accepted that I now have more yesterdays than<br />
tomorrows. And if I really want to do or accomplish anything, I better<br />
not keep putting it off to a future date.<br />
Now please don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining (like that<br />
would do any good anyway). I still feel (relatively) healthy and have no<br />
hesitation in driving or doing what I want.<br />
But what I want is different than, say the last millennium. The<br />
idea of grabbing my baseball glove for a game (or two) of softball is<br />
not even a thought. (Come to think of it, where did I leave my glove<br />
anyway? Memory issues?)<br />
And my younger days of an “all-nighter” is now replaced with<br />
boasting of simply sleeping through the night without a visit (or two)<br />
to the bathroom.<br />
In my four various adult careers, I’ve been fortunate to “never work<br />
a day in my life.” I loved my various occupations and professions and<br />
was able to do something else when it was no longer fun.<br />
And despite my many up and down aspects of my life I have had<br />
the unbelievable good fortune to love and be loved by two remarkable<br />
women – my Amy of 43 years (35 as wife) and now my PILL (partner<br />
in love & life) of 11 years, our Vegas Voice Any Content Editor, Rana<br />
Goodman.<br />
Thoughts of “retirement” have been expressed but I don’t understand<br />
how leaving what you enjoy for days of endless leisure (which for me<br />
would mean non-stop TV binge watching) is<br />
definitely not for me.<br />
Perhaps if and when “playing publisher”<br />
becomes tedious or hosting our Vegas Voice<br />
podcasts and YouTube videos become a chore<br />
and requirement, I might consider it.<br />
Lastly, by the time you read this, I should be<br />
with my Rana along with my best buddy of 48<br />
years, travel editor Stu Cooper and wife Sharon as<br />
we embark on a plus two week cruise in Europe.<br />
I never had (nor wanted) a vacation longer than a week and wonder<br />
– will I enjoy it or start climbing the cabin walls to get off the ship and<br />
return home? We’ll soon find out.<br />
All in all, I remain grateful for my good health, loving family and<br />
wonderful woman by my side. And while it does take me longer to get<br />
out of bed, I still do so ready to tackle the day.<br />
So, as I approach this special birthday, I welcome the wisdom of<br />
legendary actress Helen Mirren: “Your 40s are good, your 50s<br />
are great, your 60s are fabulous, and your 70s is F…ing<br />
Awesome!”<br />
What Do<br />
You Think?<br />
Do you agree with our columnists?<br />
Did anyone get you angry, make<br />
you think or simply put a smile<br />
on your face? Please tell us by<br />
forwarding your comments,<br />
thoughts or suggestions to Publisher<br />
Dan at: dan@thevegasvoice.net.<br />
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