Age Ain't Nothin' But a Number
“Hi?” “Hello.” “I’m….” “And I’m….” “Are you here to pick someone up?” “No, I’m not.” “Are you sure you’re in the right place?” “Positive.”
It’s incredulous, the number of times I have been somewhere and in a distant conversation within earshot from me, I've overheard someone, who themselves are just fractions over the New York State legal drinking age, state; “age ain't nothin' but a number.” It simply floors me that someone would apply that to themselves, when their age denotes, numerically, what they are legally restricted from doing. Thankfully, bravado is not gender specific. It does, however, boast of a sense of fearlessness and confidence, until it's put to the test. Then we find out that age is more than just a number, and it really does mean something. On the other hand, someone usually young will boast that their age, 40 and much younger, means nothing. However, it's more than likely that their age is not yet synonymous with their abilities. On the other end of that spectrum there is us. If you have read previous blog pages thank you, and if you haven't, please do; 60 plus years of living is a very big number (Life Clock 1,974,263) and numbers bear significance. Conversely, we quietly represent a true fact, that "age ain't nothin' but a number".
Today 60 or more years of age represents much more than the number of times we have walked, run, ridden a bike, driven or rode in a car, in a plane, a train and any other method of transportation. Sixty years tells of what we've eaten, the places we have lived and the people who we have lived with or amongst. More so, it includes the books, articles, advertisements and graffiti that you have read on the backs of buses, billboards and the countless amount of television you have watched, including news shows. Over the course of 60 plus years of living, the things we have witnessed with our very own eyes, would exhaust the memory of the average computer hard drive. Consider the events and emotions we have experienced over the course of the past 60 plus years: the pain of loss, forgiveness and regret; the bliss and euphoria of happiness and joy; the number of jobs we have worked, and the all people we have liked and disliked; the disagreements; the arguments; the physical fights we have lost and won. Then there's birth, life, death, and renewal. I could go on infinitum. The point is, although there may be time when age can be dismissed as no more than just a number. But there comes a point in all our lives when that number added to the life lived merge into one.
Yes, we, now can do literally anything we want. Life has for many of us become virtually "Charlie in a Chocolate Factory". Of course, within moderation. If you haven't realized it, then let me be the first to tell you. Crossing this threshold of 60 years of living is more than just a mere milestone. Think of it this way. What is really off-limits at this point in our lives? I am not advocating anything remotely associated with criminal behavior and as a disclaimer; malicious and or criminal behavior is unacceptable at any age. However, it's hard to deny the truth. What do we have to lose? Thankfully, for most of us our moral compass and the fact that we fully understand the consequences of our actions, is the very reason why we have been able avoid these tempestuous trappings of freedom. The world may not be our playground, but as many of us are homeowners, our backyards provide us with enough privacy to enjoy our own piece of happiness and freedom. This sense of contentment is expressed through charity, endowment and benevolence. Giving is a clear sign that "age ain't nothing but a number". Too often when you're young it's hard to understand sacrifice and its importance. Especially as it improves the lives of other people.
On occasion when I am talking to someone or a group of people younger than myself, generally about sports, the conversations will often veer into matters of life; invariably there comes a pivotal shift in the conversation, when it imperceptibly changes and becomes more about what I know and what they don’t. I can't often determine if this is intentional, and I have painfully learned over the years that I am not everyone’s father. Acknowledging that, allows me to feel comfortable knowing that I don't have all the answers, especially during these conversations. Recognizing this, I have made it a point of refrain, when I feel as though I am crossing the line between just listening and giving advice. Especially if and when it's not requested. People may want to know, they just don't want to be told. Yet and still, these interactions occur all too frequently and they often leave me wondering; is our age perceived as if we know something more and are openly willing to share it? Can I, can you, help it if we have lived a long time? Gray hair may symbolize age, but it should not be considered as knowledge. In these brief communications, the seismic divide in the age gap is unveiled; which then leads ultimately to less of a conversation and more of a history lesson. Worse, an acknowledgement of the cultural divide. Remember, it started as a conversation about sports? Most are sincerely unaware, but age, my age, our age, is both the number and the reason why this is no longer a conversation about sports. Situations like such can make interactions very awkward. Again, it's not our intention. Conversely, when "age ain't nothing but a number", I or you, meet and talk with someone who is our counterpart. The discussion or conversation never veers into more than what it began as, unless it is intentional. Situations such as this can be reassuring mentally as your knowledge and the life you have lived is appreciated and often equalized. Equal terms make it easy for equal understanding.
I love football. Here it comes, the proverbial sports reference...
In the late 70’s I was a big Washington R*******S Commanders fan, albeit I lived in New York. Nonetheless, at the time they were one of, if not, the oldest team in the NFL and affectionately known as “The over the Hill Gang.” Truly, there is something magical about watching older players go up against younger players and or older team's vs younger teams. I openly admit that I root for the Old Guys, the underdogs. They, The R********S were coached by George Allen, a Ronald Reagan look-a-like, black hair with the straightest part in his hairline that I have ever seen and of course graying temples. Their quarterback at the time was a guy who physically resembles Norm from Cheers. He had a pot belly that stretched his jersey at the stomach, and he wore a single bar helmet. His name was Sonny Jorgensen. Although he was far from resembling today’s physically svelte NFL player, make no mistake about, Sonny was a dam good quarterback. What he may have lacked in physique he amply made up for it in heart. His replacement or back-up was no different. He too wore high-top shoes and one bar helmet; his name was Billy Kilmer. But my favorite player was a running back who embodied what football, in those days was, blood and guts. He wore number 43, and his name was Larry Brown. No fancy moves, not shifty, he didn’t possess great speed, and he couldn’t have weighed more than 190 pounds wet. However, when pitted against younger foes his effort and perseverance was relentless. It’s unfortunate, but even with all that experience and wisdom they still lost that very close game in Superbowl VII, in 1973, to the younger Miami Dolphins.
As a matter of record, the Miami Dolphins had the first and last perfect season in NFL history. I remember the final score of that game, 14-7. I marveled that Washington would have been able to pull out the victory if it were not for an end zone interception thrown by Billy Kilmer. I mention all this, because age was a major factor in the Miami victory and youth was served. However in another historical moment in sports. I also vividly remember watching Chris Evert vs Billie Jean King, where age, or the difference in age, played a significant role in Chris Evert's win; you needn’t inquire who I was rooting for. On the other hand, sometimes the older age does prevail. Which leads me to his royal highness of dignity and class personified, the late great Arthur Ashe. In the 1975 Wimbledon Finals he defeated a much younger Jimmy Connors in four sets to become The Wimbledon Champion. Connors who was ten years younger than Ashe, was a southpaw with a rocket for a serve and all the energy of a Road Runner. I can still clearly see it, in the images in my mind, as if it were happening today. I can see Jimmy Connors pounding this tennis ball as if it were a piece of granite and his racket was a sledgehammer. Then there was Arthur Ashe, slim and refined, looking as if he had just stepped out from a GQ shoot; returning every Connors guided missile. Age vs youth was defiantly on display that day. We had (my family), by now, a color tv and Arthur Ashe looked regal, perfectly quaffed, not a hair out of place in the Afro. The outcome of that day resonated with me for years to come, in more ways than one. But as a teenager I watched and rooted for Age. On that day age prevailed 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in four sets. That situation defines why "age ain't nothin' but a number", because lessons learned from time can be applied when you need them the most.
Apologies for the number of sports references. However, sports is the perfect backdrop for this conundrum. In that same year I watched my hero, who I knew was well over-the-hill. However, after all, he was The Greatest. If anyone said they could accomplish something, you would believe that he would be one who could do it. That was none other than Muhammad Ali, and he proved all the naysayers and doubters wrong in Zaïre, Africa in 1975 by defeating Big George Foreman. That indelible moment is known as "The Rumble in The Jungle". As I reminisce, the question that always comes to mind is why did I root for the older players instead of players closer to my age? Given the time to think I now understand why, respect. I knew that age was just number, but I also felt internally that it was also more than just, a number. It meant something to be older, it carried weight. Likewise, all of my heroes (athletes) were older than me and it felt right as if it was meant to be. And if one day I wanted sit upon that mantle, I was going to have to wait my turn. Although I was eager and younger, I recognized even then, that this might not be a fight that I could win. Patience would have to prevail. I know that many would think the subject line, “age ain't nothin' but a number”, would connote something more intimate? I agree, and it would be fitting if were true, or untrue depending on your perspective. We are now 60 years old and age is no longer The Berlin Wall; we have no barriers beyond the ones we create for ourselves. We do, however, have a code of conduct and a discipline that has proven itself to me to be a very good guide directing our lives.
After 60 plus years of life, we can now see our lives expressed in photographs with our families, our travels and our accomplishments through the years. However, if we look closely at ourselves, have we really changed? Did I, we get older or better? Age is no longer a formidable foe; age is believing that there exists no stop sign configured to inhibit growth and continued development. Age hasn’t, placed me in a chair in the backyard with a glass of lemonade. Age is boundless and with that we have a bounce. We now have a style, a walk, (hoodies and coffee mugs) shameless plug, a sway and an announcement and pronouncement that we have arrived. Suffice to say, There isn’t anything left to prove. Yes, when appropriate, in limited situations “age ain't nothin' but a number”. That’s a very small reference, not designed or situated for everyone. No, we can’t get younger from being with someone, younger. Likewise, there exist no creams, or special elixirs, or diets and\or gym equipment that will reverse time. As such, this number isn’t just a number, it’s a light. A beacon. We shine. Now the DOB on the driver’s license may be the actual date. However, what it doesn’t say is what we can’t do. Believe me, I you, we can do any dam thing we want to.
We all can, because; “Age ain't nothin' but a number”.
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