6-&%!%!-0

Life has an interesting way of correcting its imbalances. I turned 60 today. I’ve had to contend with the inevitable “Happy Birthday You Old Fart” cards. Why do the literati write those things? Why do people buy them? I received this one an hour ago……from my wife.
I’ve also been falling apart. It was subtle at first. A canker sore, a small pimple, then another. Now I look like a wrinkled teen with full blown acne & a mouthful of bees. I came into this past weekend not sure if I was going to make it back out. 
Yesterday, desperate to relax, I turned on the television. A documentary on Terry Gilliam’s “Don Quixote” came on. It told the tale of a seasoned director‘s valiant attempt to complete his film. A storm wrecked his set on the second day. Day five saw his protagonist end up with a double-herniated disk. As obstacle piled on top of obstacle, Terry soldiered on. And lost. The movie never got made.
After that, another film appeared with an eerily similar outcome. Unfortunately, I can’t recall its name. Like I said, I just turned 60. But I got the message: You can’t win when it comes to nature, be it weather or age. She will always triumph.
I left early this morning for a strenuous hike up a very tall mountain. I didn’t make it to the summit. I barely made it halfway. But I made it back down.
I’ll attempt that peak again. And I won’t be bothered if I don’t summit. I have more important things to consider. Like my imminent appointment with a large piece of chocolate cake.