Anna, the Eclectic Librarian, posted this item–which suggests to me that she just turned thirty.
Congratulations.
My birthday was yesterday. Five Three score and one, three shy of the Beatles’ magic number, one past Elton John’s old “no wish to be living” cutoff (which I suspect he’s rethought in recent years…)
As for The Who, well, you know, “old” is one of those changing targets. I don’t plan to get old for another couple of decades.
What kind of a year was 60? Mixed, and not necessarily in a good way–particularly given that the 50s were such a good decade.
The good: A bunch of Cites & Insights issues that I’m particularly proud of, including one that’s edging up on 18,000 readers. Good health. A wonderful wife. Keeping on…
The not-so-good: Rocky times at work, what with being cut to 75%-time just after turning 60, primary tasks that don’t relate terribly well to who I think I am (but are important, but I do them well, but nobody else is left to do them), and all of the turmoil and continuing uncertainty of the OCLC-RLG merger…
Also the first year in more than a decade in which we didn’t manage to take a cruise, or really any major vacation (one 4-night trip, two two-night trips, none of them more than 250 miles away…)…
I’m hoping (expecting) 61 to be a little more positive in work terms, a little better in vacation terms, and no worse in writing/professional terms. Maybe not the most ambitious goals, but…
Update: Thanks to David for pointing out that five score is a bit past my current age…indeed, past any age I’m particularly interested in reaching.
Happy belated birthday!
Take it easy on yourself. All this merger stuff is stressful.
Too bad “five score and one” is 37 years past the Beatles magic number.
Happy belated birthday, and I hope this year is an excellent one for you.
Dorothea: Thanks. David: Oops. Fixed. I’m 61, not 101…
Rikhei: Thanks.
The merger stuff is mostly slow to take final shape at this point (except for a select few), and that could continue for anywhere up to, oh, 11 months. These things take time, particularly in a case like this…
Happy birthday, Walt, and best wishes for the year ahead.
Happy birthday, Walt, and Happy Year-to-Come.
Thanks all!
Happy Birthday Walt! Mine is a week from Sunday when I am a mere two score and thirteen.
My definition of middle-aged: Middle-aged is how old your parents are.
That’s MY story and I am sticking to it! (My mother turns 81 in October.)
Here’s another belated happy birthday from someone who will face the so-called big 4-0 and the end of the month. I’m much happier about it than I was about turning 30.
Just this morning I heard someone on NPR say “60 is the new 40!”, making it the second time in a month I’ve heard that phrase. So enjoy!
Hm. If 60 is the new 40, then is 40 the new 20?
Michael, I left that part out: My definition of middle-aged always used to be “five years older than my father.” But he’s going on 98, so that really doesn’t work well any more.
Walt, we share an astrological sign–as well as an employer now! My birthday is on Monday….and it’s my 50th. I can’t say I am thrilled about that–although as the cliche goes, it’s better than the alternative.
Alane, Daniel, I think I enjoyed my 50s more than my 40s, and I *know* I enjoyed my 30s and 40s more than my 20s, so…
Happy Birthday!
Happy belated birthday Walt! As much as I may be anxious about turning 50 in a small number of years, I *am* looking forward to my 50s being so much better than my 40s.
Not directly related, but yesterday’s paper had a story about a centenarian who still plays violin in a local symphony orchestra (using a 1748 violin). The story said that he looked 60 (or maybe he said he thought he looked 60). Today’s paper had a picture. My comment to my wife was, “If he looks 60, I look a lot younger than I am.” The truth, to be sure, is that I look just about 61…and this guy looks to be a very healthy 85 or so. But, of course, a healthy 61 is probably comparable to 55 or 50 a couple of generations ago, so I’m not complaining.
One long-term generational change, where I’m either in or close to the first changed generation: The idea that you really should keep most or all of your own teeth (in working order) past middle age, and ideally all of your life. I think we were called “the Crest generation” growing up. If you own stock in companies entirely devoted to denture-related products…if there are any such companies left…plan on selling soon, I’d guess.
[Thanks to Steven Cohen, I won’t cop to “old.” I will cop to “middle aged,” which I’d currently define as, oh, 55 to 75. Ask me again in ten years…]
““middle aged,†which I’d currently define as, oh, 55 to 75.”
Hmmm…. I’m a few years shy of that, but started defining myself as a “middle-aged lady” when the hot flashes started.
Happy belated birthday, Walt! It turns out we share a birthday – I was born on September 14th, too, 37 years ago.
On a separate note, here’s something I know you’ll be interested in reading: http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2006/09/find-it-at-library.html
Donna, thanks.
I was already aware of the increased presence of “find it in a library” links, both through Google blogs and through actual use. Doesn’t hurt to repeat it here, though…