How is this for feeling old?
In October of 1917, before the end of World War I, my father was born.
I thought of this today while getting my new Michigan driver’s license. Michigan is one of five US states that has an “enhanced” drivers license. It is also available in Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington. I was asked a series of questions, like “Where was your father born”? This along with a birth certificate is used to prove more certainly that you are a US citizen.
The enhanced license contains an imbedded RFID chip and allows for entry into the Canada and Mexico by land or sea (no flying). Since we will be road tripping to Canada, and my passport just expired, it is a nice cheap enhancement to a license I needed anyway.
But still … 101 years ago! I dwelled on it a bit today. Googled a little. My father died at 78 years of age. My brother died at 65.
The (in)famous Suze Orman proclaims, “Don’t retire until you are 70”. Yes, sure, you might live past 90. But, you might not. For a 60-year-old male, there is a 15% chance you never even make it to 70.
That old (irresponsible) Grass Roots song starts playing in my mind:
People seem to find
And how they’re in a hurry
To complicate their minds
And dreams that can’t come true
I’m glad that we are different
We’ve better things to do…..
Yes, just living for today would be irresponsible when you are 30, but when are 60, it might just be a reasonable, rational, smart decision. Feeling a bit old today. But also feeling fantastic!