Happy Birthday DON SMITH

[Van]

All the Best Don!

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Yeah happy birthday. We will have a cake for you at the Dam Van Rally. How many candles should we bring? 

[TomC]

And a fire extinguisher!

[Dave5Cs]

Happy Happy Birthday you word smith you. See you on Saturday. In Arkansas tonight.
Dave5Cs

[buswarrior]

Don doesn't get old!

Happy recognition of another lap of the sun!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[akroyaleagle]

Happy Birthday to Don!

I miss your eloquent writing!

[luvrbus]

Have a great Don hope to see you in a couple of weeks

[lvmci]

Happy Birthday Don, wishes for a happy and healthy year to come, tom...

[edvanland]

Happy birthday Don, careful you are going to catch up to some of the rest of us.

[boxcarOkie]

   I arose one morning and I went to the mine.  Another day older and deeper in debt, St. Peter don't you call me, 'cause I am too old, I owwwwwwwwe my soul to the company store.  Do-do-do-dum, dumpty dee dum.  What was the name of that old Tennessee Ernie Ford Song? 

   The title escapes me at the moment.

   Have to be honest about all this, here lately, a great many things "escape me" at the moment.  Another year older and Father Time has called my name.  Life a thief in the night, he marched right in here and stole but another year.

   This morning, a friend called and wished me well, and then he started telling me about all these people that he knew who died at my age and the causes of their deaths.  I said, "Stop it Bill, I am not interested" but he continued.  Bill, bless his heart, never seems to take "no" for an answer.  He just figures it might mean "maybe."

   "Stop it!  Stop it!" I said. 

   Not to be deterred, he also filled me in on all these people he knew personally our age in his own neighborhood, who had died in just the last 12 months.  I finally had to tell him that he was depressing me, to stop it!  So much for happy thoughts and birthday well-wishers huh?  So much for the snappy Hallmark Card with the inspirational saying and the cute cartoon.  I swear, right now, if I had a Helium balloon, I would suck on it.

   I guess it is all relevant, I am just as young as ever, but lately it takes a lot more effort.  I am no longer warned to slow down by the Police, but rather, by my Doctor instead.  Some people grow up and spread cheer, I just sorta grew up, and then spread!  Much like the biblical passage ... "All things must pass" ... I used to eat like a horse, now I look like one.  Life is so unfair at times.

   With age, I find that things eventually change.  I am now starting for the house after a night on the town about the time I started to go elsewhere when I was young.  Sign of the times I guess, now is the time we learn to watch our step.  We are doing that.  Except we are not stepping out that much anymore.

   The best thing about getting older is the fact that all those things you couldn't have when you were young, you no longer want.  You reach a point  where you don't worry about where the wife goes, as long as you don't have to go with her.  The shapely female figure no longer turns your head, and the Easy Boy Recliner calls your name.

   No longer having to worry about avoiding temptation, it avoids me, at least most of the time it does.  Lately I have more on my mind, than I have on my head.  As my wife and I are virtually the same age, she no longer fibs about hers, she lies about mine instead.

   Before this moment, it was truly, just another day.  Am I really this old?  How did I reach this juncture in time?  How on earth did this happen?  Three-quarters of a century old and counting, this can not be possible.  Time just sort of run by.  Small child, teenager, young adult, you know the rest, I don't have to ask myself anymore questions, I know the answers.

   I woke up this morning thinking:  "I might feel something new?" after all, pushing 70 is something new to me.  I might feel wiser maybe.  Clearer of head, stronger of heart.  More centered.  More ...... as I used to say in my now begotten youth ..... together.  But I didn't feel any of those things.  I felt as I do most every morning, pretty good.  A little stiff in the knee, aching in the usual joints, physical greetings from an my old friend after all these years.  You know, a little family arthritis and all right, maybe a little age.  "Well, well, I said to myself, if this is what 70 feels like, then that is ok."

   Funny how things work out.  I have to be honest.  Most of the time, I do not understand my brain.  Some days I do not understand my heart.  I don't want to be 70 this day, I would much rather be say, seventeen again and starting out on Life's Grand Adventure.  My mind softly tells me that I have always liked beginnings best of all.

   So I fool myself into believing that I am just starting out on but one more Grand Adventure. 

         The Golden Years.  I will announce to all or those who actually care, that I am now "mellowed out and laid back."

   Yesterday my little grand-daughter inquired, "Grandpa how old are you?" and I answered, "I am so old that I can remember a time in life, when I did not need a password for anything!"

   She took it in, thought about it and then let out a big breath and said, "Whew, that is really old Grandpa, really old."

   Thanks so much for all the well wishes.

BCO 

   

   
   

[oltrunt]

As always Don, well written.  Thanks, Jack

[Prevo]

 ::)Happy Birthday  Don, we are going to miss you at coffee every morning at the dam rally. Don,t worry about getting older because the alternative is  not acceptable. Always have enjoyed your posts on here, keeps a lot of the fellows alert.  Have a  great day & relax   & enjoy yourself Tyke