The Older Man

Well, two months ago I would never have guessed I would be sitting here writing, on of all things a computer. Here, is a man who didn’t own a computer, watch, wallet, or a cell phone. The last three I still don’t own and as of today still have no intentions of owning. When I told my daughters that I owned a computer they were stunned. My oldest stated, its about time you came out of the Stone Age. Funny, I never felt like I lived in that age. It seemed to me it was the Quieter Age. When people asked me for my email address I just said I didn’t own a computer. The younger people (those below the age of 59) were amazed. All my friends(most over 60, however have some in the younger age group) didn’t really thing much about it and adapted to my primitive ways. I was doing just fine. My life consisted mainly of caring for my wife (who has MS), swimming, reading, and working. Almost forgot the weekly golf game were I would get my digs in to the friends. Then I resigned from work and had to come up with a new form of making some dinero. After exploring a few options, I decided to call 3-putt(real name Richard Smith) who has been working on this marvelous machine for 10 years. The lunch we had together was very informative and I came up with some interesting ideas. Within a few weeks I had bought a laptop and have been playing around with it ever since. It amazes me what it can do as long as I give it the right commands. Sometimes they are right but most of the time they are wrong. I have no doubt that by the time I am 70 I will have at least mastered turning it on and off. My 9 year old granddaughter has been of great assistance along with my friends and my daughters. What I find the most interesting is at 60 most people can not believe that I resigned from my job and didn’t have one to go to. Many thought I was going to retire. That would have been a good idea but I have this slight problem-no dinero. That took care of my retirement. Many thought it was because my wife’s disease was getting worse. That was not the case. At this time she is still stable and for having this disease for close to 20 years is holding her own. That took care of that situation. My last job was that of a bartender and the hours and shifts were getting a little out of hand. When, I told people I was going to buy a computer and blog they were stunned. How could I make any dinero doing that. Even my friends who own a computer were not familiar with blogging. How are you going to do this when you have no computer skills and can you write. Who is going to read you? As far as the computer skills I will learn what I have to in order to write. Writing, well I have no doubt I can at least spell the words right(thank you spell check) and I have at least a few ideas and happen to be an expert in a few areas. Lets see: medical field: medic USAF four years, hospital social worker eight years, hospice social worker eight years:relationships: son sixty years, father times three and with my blended family times six(all daughters), grandfather own eight, blended sixteen, and two brothers: MS- I have been a care-giver for the past fifteen years, life: sixty years of experience, hopefully I have learned a thing or two. I might have a few words of wisdom that I could pass along. I hope I have not been long winded as I tend to be at times. My missives as I like to call them will be much shorter hopefully. Which brings us to the reasons why I have made such a drastic change. The first reason is I have had experience in the past with changing professions. Eight years ago, I resigned from hospice. As a hospice social worker, responsible for thirty patience it is emotionally very draining and if you don’t leave it will eventually filter into your personal life and can destroy it.. Three months off, and for the next eight years I was a bartender. The two jobs are very similar, as you are working with people. The second advantage I have is my wife. Physically she cannot do many things, but emotionally and mentally she is as sharp as she was when I married her twenty years ago. She has the utmost confidence in me and knows I will do well. Her support over the years has sustained me, and with out it I have no doubt I would not have been able to make such drastic changes.. Lastly, I have failed before and am no longer fearful of this. I have no doubt I will fail again many times. However, I have learned so much from my past failures that I know I will succeed. I am an old dog, that will learn new tricks. I am grateful for this as many in my lifetime have not had the opportunity to see 60. All the stars are aligned so to speak. The next decade is beginning tonight, it is the begging of my sixth decade, and two threes are six. Hope you will enjoy my missives. Thank you for reading.

With kindest regards, Judowolf