Twice in the last month two different friends said to me: ‘Don’t let the old man in.’ The friends were responding to my complaining about the botheration of getting on in years! It is good advice at any age but I thought it was great advice for me at the beginning of yet another year on this planet.
Getting older can be a time for relaxing and enjoying pastimes like reading and playing cards. My father really enjoyed his years of retirement played ‘Twenty-five’ and going to Bingo sessions every week. I am not much good at ‘Twenty-five’ and I find Bingo boring. Check!
Getting older can also be a time when people slow up and feel aches and pains in the joints that were not there a few years earlier. It takes time to adjust to this new reality. Like many others, I feel the aches and the pains. I get tired easily. I wish I did not have to get up early some days. It is a new reality called ageing.
It also means having to come to terms with your mortality. Many of my friends have died. I find myself going to more funerals -often of people younger than I am. You realise it will soon be your turn. But I must remember the advice I have been given recently. There is even a song about it written and sung by Toby Keith. You should give it a listen. The great Willie Nelson also recorded it.
Don’t Let the Old Man In
Don’t let the old man in
I wanna leave this alone
Can’t leave it up to him
He’s knocking on my door
And I knew all of my life
That someday it would end
Get up and go outside
Don’t let the old man in
Many moons I have lived
My body’s weathered and worn
Ask yourself how would you be
If you didn’t know the day you were born
Try to love on your wife
And stay close to your friends
Toast each sundown with wine
Don’t let the old man in
Many moons I have lived
My body’s weathered and worn
Ask yourself how would you be
If you didn’t know the day you were born
When he rides up on his horse
And you feel that cold bitter wind
Look out your window and smile
Don’t let the old man in
Look out your window and smile
Don’t let the old man in
Fr.Joe, it is far from an ‘Old Man’ that you are!! Keep her lit a Chara !! Jack