But Ronald Reagan Looked Old

Turning 70 is a big deal and then again it isn't. It is sort of like how babies are born every minute of every day, but we often overlook the miraculous things that have to happen in order to hear that first cry. Turning 70 is like that but without the crying or maybe with the crying depending on the person.

The two presidential candidates we were stuck with this year are hovering around 70. Donald Trump is actually 70 and Hillary comes in close at 69. Maybe there were too many other important issues floating around this election like who was grabbing what and who was sent security secrets from a Hotmail account, but their ages took a back seat.

Regardless of who I voted for, I never personally thought, "Wow, Hills is too old to be taking the presidency seriously." (Although her grasp of the email thing might have been a tip off.) Or, "Wow, Donald's comb over is not working for his 70 year old head." (He still wears it as well as he did when he was 40.)

I read an editorial recently about the ballot question to extend Pennsylvania's judicial retirement age to 75. The author pointed out that Baby Boomers have  successfully redefined the word old. Ronald Reagan was the same age as Trump when he took office in January of  1981. Although at the time I was only 6, Reagan seemed old, like my grandpaps. Even looking at photos of him, he looks...well, old.

I run across many Baby Boomers because of my job and to me they don't seem old. (Although my point of reference has changed now that I am old-er and no longer a kid.) They have a vitality that inspires me. I know a hard working lady that put in an 8 hour shift at her job after her chemo treatments. These boomers are tough cookies.

This brings me to another Ronald, not as famous, but every bit admirable. This Ronald is my father. He turns 70 on Saturday. This is an amazing feat on many levels. He was drafted at the age of 17 and spent time as a corpsman in Vietnam. He overcame addiction and is 24 years sober. He has managed heart disease and diabetes to become the oldest living male in generations of his family. (His father died at age 64.)

But while 70 is the new 50 these days, just 100 years ago the life expectancy rate for males was only 49.6. So with that perspective 70 is a big deal and one to celebrate although I am sure advances in modern medicine and Chick-Fil-A's push to 'Eat More Chicken' have been contributing factors.

Although both my grandpaps were gone before I turned 12, I do not remember them being as active as my dad has been in his role of 'Pappy.' Even after calling it quits 4 or 5 times, the simple request from his grandson to throw just one more pitch to hopefully 'get that homer' will keep the game going.

Yes, there are days when my dad gets tired but that lasts only about an hour until his second wind kicks in. Even on days when he doesn't feel 100% he pushes himself even when family members encourage him to take a break today. My mom will say, "You know your Dad."

I do know my dad and I know a lot of what makes him tick makes me tick. I am happy to know that because of my DNA, I'll be more likely to keep fighting than to give up. I'll be more likely to act out a funny story instead of just telling it and I will go to ends of the earth if ever one of my kids needs me to. There is no limit to the love my father has for his children and there is no limit to the love I have for my father.