Alan NeSmith
Pulling in our neighborhood Sunday, I was jet lagged and whipped. By taxi, plane and Heather’s Jeep we had traveled just shy of 4,000 miles since we brushed our teeth that morning. And as I made the right turn to pull in our driveway I said, “What are those people doing in our front yard?”
And then the 5-0 jumped out at me off the top of the sign.
Yeah, I’m pleased to have reached this milestone birthday, but where did 1991 go?
When you are facing a birthday and a zero in your new age, you ponder. Frankly, you might even fret a wee bit.
Did you realize the Class of 2023 is as far removed in years from the Class of 1991 as the Class of 1991 was removed from the Class of 1959?
For the record, I have nothing against the Class of 1959. However, in 1991 it felt like 1959 was ancient history.
And how about the year 2023 being as far away from 1973 as 1973 was from 1923.
My Granddaddy NeSmith was born in 1922. Geez.
About three years ago, I walked up to give my mom a hug in the parking lot of a restaurant. After the hug, she stepped back and stared at my beard and hair. “A, you are getting a lot of white in there,” she said.
“Highlights, mom, highlights,” I said.
No one should be surprised when they turn 50. When you think about it, you did have a half century to get ready for it. But my-oh-my, 50.
At the young age of 27, I began to get concerned about turning 30 years old. Looking back on it, that was three years of wasted fret. And then 40 flat snuck up on me. You see, William was born when I was 35 years old and Fenn was born when I was 37. Frankly, our house was so busy in those years, there was no time to think about anything but the duty that lied nearest. And you know what, nothing has really changed since.
Next Monday, William will enter high school. Thankfully, Fenn will just be going into the seventh grade. And I definitely feel old enough to have a son that is a freshman in high school being 50 years old and all.
Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
Here’s to focusing on Twain’s sage advice during the years I have ahead of me. And by golly, thank goodness, I will never have to turn 50 years old again on a Monday.
Alan NeSmith is the chairman of Community Newspapers Inc. Reach him at 706-778-4215 or anesmith@TheNortheastGeorgian.com.