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I’ll Get My Kicks At Age 66

There are often times in our lives that we find ourselves uttering the line, “Another day, another dollar,” before or after another day of work, sometimes following that up with the additional line, “that we owe someone,” which is sometimes the way that I feel. The past few years, I’ve encountered a few health setbacks, a couple which have been a little more serious in nature, but for the Grace of God, and the knowledge and skill of those doctors, PAs, nurses, aids, rehab personnel, and anyone I’ve encountered associated with the medical field, and the thoughts and prayers from so many, I still get to wake up each morning and face the day that I get to earn that day’s dollar and pay it to someone.

This coming Tuesday, Lord willing, I’ll make it to another one of those days, and I’ll be fortunate to be able to celebrate another anniversary of my birth, as I will mark 66 years on this earth, and feel very fortunate to have done so.

The past few years, I’ve looked upon my birth’s anniversary, at age 64, from the eyes and lyrics of the Beatles song, “When I’m 64,” at age 65, from the standpoint of now being lumped into the survey group of “over 64,” or “65 and up,” and this year I’d like to take liberties from the song so celebrated, it’s been performed for over seven decades by more than a hundred performers that include, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (together), Nat King Cole, The Rolling Stones, Asleep at the Wheel, Natalie Cole, John Pizzarelli, Ray Charles, John Mayer, and Glenn Frey. With respect, (and maybe apologies), to actor and lyricist, Bobby Troup, I am looking upon this particular birthday and celebrating with all those who will be turning the same age as me this year, with the tweaking of Troup’s lyrics of the popular song written by him titled, “Route 66.” and https:// lyricsfreak.com.

I am hoping I can make this my theme song for the upcoming new year of my life.

Here goes:

“Well, if I ever plan to see more life Jack, hear me say

I’ll take the smartest road I can, that’s the best way,

To get my kicks at age 66.

I’ve traveled long and far years these years that’s for sure

Lived 24K days, looking forward to more,

So I can get my kicks at age 66.

Gone many miles, New York to Hawaii,

Virginia, Tennessee

Ohio is a fun place for me

I’ve seen Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and more

Nashville and Richmond, the California shore

Other places like Baltimore.

So many great places traveled sea to sea

Hoping there’ll be a bunch more for me

To give me kicks past age 66.

It started in Jamestown where I began to see

This country’s beauty and grand majesty

So I’ll take care of myself to be as healthy as can be

We’ll see…”

Again, my apologies and thanks, to Mr. Troup, but the sentiments are there. I hope I’ll have a lot of kicks at age 66, and beyond. I do want to stop for a moment to remember the many of my family and friends, and a special remembrance shout out to those of my classmates at JHS, Class of ’71, who haven’t made it to 66, as they’ve left us, far too early.

In my six plus decades on this earth, I have been so fortunate to have seen what I’ve seen, and done what I’ve done in my life. I’ve been so tremendously blessed to have met as many wonderful people in my life, and I have been granted so many riches, not in monetary terms, but in terms of the wealth of opportunities I have been able to experience in my more than 24,000 days of life.

Sometimes life’s had it’s down times, sometimes things slow down and we may feel that life has become a little stale, or unexciting, but that falls back on our own shoulders. Sometimes the weather gets us down some, and living in these parts, cabin fever does make an appearance during some of our winter months. All of that though, cannot prevent us from getting our kicks, if we don’t want that to happen. You need to plan activities to keep busy. They don’t have to cost a lot, but they can give you fun activities, chances to be with other people, share interests, and get out of the house.

Maybe we can heed the words from the refrain from “It’s My Life” by Jon Bon Jovi when he sang,

” It’s my life

It’s now or never

I ain’t gonna live forever

I just want to live while I’m alive

(It’s my life)

My heart is like an open highway

Like Frankie said

I did it my way

I just want to live while I’m alive

It’s my life”

It’s My Life lyrics ç Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

I mean, hey, life’s too short, and it’s never too late to enjoy it.

Looking at my year of 66, the following are some things on the “to do” list for this coming year, after my celebration day after tomorrow.

We have our ticket package for the Indians again this year. Along with those tickets, we’ll have access to the MLB All Star Game and Home Run Derby to be held in Cleveland in July. Jon and I are planning a five-day excursion to share that experience. We’re planning to attend a couple of Jimmy Buffett concerts this summer. Looking to travel to one new venue this year, Cincinnati, along with one in Virginia Beach, which we hit back in 2014. We hope to get to the Comedy Center during the Lucy Festival again this year. We’re meeting our daughter, Chasy, for the Cincinnati concert and then following her and Richard back to Tennessee for a few days to see our grandson, and hopefully get to see our great-grandson too. We’re planning on sitting on our deck a lot (weather permitting) grillin’ and chillin,” watching Tribe games, and enjoying summer nights right at home. This fall, I’ll be back at it on Sundays with the Browns Backers of Jamestown looking forward to what has been predicted to be an exciting season for the Orange and Brown. They still have to play the games on the field though, but win or lose the group of people I share each football Sunday with, makes being a part of the Browns Backers Worldwide, a great four month party. Win or lose, and we’ve experienced a lot of the latter, it’s an amazing rush of which I’m proud to be a part. It’s also possible the Tribe might also be playing this fall, as they have the past three, and four out of the last five seasons, so maybe we can add that to our “kicks” list.

And in the middle of all of these kicks I hope to get at 66, Sally and I are so very excited to be getting ready to welcome our new granddaughter, who will make her arrival in June. After that entrance into the world, I may change my tune slightly to the line in the number Dean Martin made famous, “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head.” That’ll definitely be a kick in the head for Sally and me, and oh yeah, probably for the first-time parents too. Can’t wait!!

So, let the celebration begin, as the year looks to be another exciting one for me, one that will definitely let me get my kicks at age 66. Thanks, all, for being part of my life.

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