Tag: aging

Celebrity Deaths: Not My Greatest Concern #aging #death #celebrity #TeriGarr #RIP #travel

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Another day, another celebrity death. Today, it’s Teri Garr.

I never understood the concern for celebrity deaths. If you don’t know someone, their only value to you is the work they’ve done, whether in film, TV, music, or whatever. Everything they’ve done is still available to you. Sure, if they die young, then you know your’re missing out on what could have been, but that’s a selfish interest, not a concern for the celebrity in question. I have more to worry about than people who, because I don’t know them, can easily be replaced to the extent they affect my life. What do I have to worry about?

Towers 3 and 4 on the left were my home for 4-1/2 of 5-1/2 years in Chicago.

This weekend in Chicago was great. It really was. It was filled with nostalgia from my law school days, and allowed me to catch up with great friends. I saw the Commanders beat the Bears in improbable fashion while within enemy territory. However, there were almost as many discussions about bad news as there were discussions about good news. We discussed friends who’ve cut off contact presumably because of depression; friends who have had recent or current, serious health issues; and friends that have died. Not people I’ve heard of, but friends. Quite a few of them. People with whom I’ve dined, drank, and paintballed. One I should have married.

At my age (56), someone in my life dies every four months or so. The last one was July 16, which means November 16 is about when I should expect the next one to go. This weekend reminded me of that. That’s why celebrity deaths don’t bother me very much.

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Another Loss #death #dying #aging

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It seems like once every two or three months, someone I know dies. This is to be expected; I’m 56. However, some hit harder than others, and this is one of them.

In College Park, MD after the UMD-UVA lacrosse game.

Yesterday my friend, Robert Eugene Merlini, tragically lost his life (other coverage here, here, and here). We were fellow students at Good Counsel High School, which then was in Wheaton, MD. (It’s now located in my home town of Olney, MD.) We both went to the University of Maryland, but we never hung out there. Over 35 years later, Bobby and I reconnected via Facebook.

As an old guy, nostalgia is a big deal to me (see, e.g., my many posts on my return to 1st Edition D&D), and Bobby was very much a part of that. Because of him, I’ve recently been to a Maryland lacrosse game (both of us are/were fans, and I’m a former season ticket holder), hung out at bars, and I went to my first high school football game since I was actually in high school. He also is responsible for reconnecting me to our fellow Good Counsel High School alumni, both on social media and in real life. This was as important to him as it is to me.

After his mother died last year, which hit him pretty hard, he found a bit of joy starting his return to piloting commercial aircraft. He had a gig with American and was recently in Ohio for training. He was well on his way. He once posted to Facebook tagging me and several others as his inner circle who had his back during his tough times and his return to commercial piloting. I’m glad to know that I was able to do my part to help him along his way. I wish he could have regained those wings. He earned them.

RIP, Bobby

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Happy Birthday, Keith Richards! @officialKeef #aging #happybirthday #birthday #RollingStones #KeithRichards

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It is claimed that on this day in 1943, Keith Richards was born. However, . . .

. . . we all know the truth.

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Birthday Epilogue #aging #happybirthday #birthday #office

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Because I was out of the office on my birthday taking a “continuing legal education” course, most of my coworkers didn’t get to celebrate it. So, they decided to decorate my office, which I saw today.

The first thing I noticed was my wall.

That seems normal enough. The window did as well.

Soon thereafter, as I gazed across the room, I found myself asking, “What the shit?!”

Are my coworkers in love with me?

That Post-It note is literally an apology from our receptionist for how over the top the decorations were.

Wait a second. Why all the pink?

For this next one, here’s some context. Everyone has a nameplate that I designed a couple of years ago. We printed them in black and white, so it’s black lettering and imagery on a white background. Recently, I changed mine to white lettering on a black background. It’s looks awesome, and everyone was jealous (even though I copied it from a coworker that sits at the end of the office where no one sees her nameplate). It’s sort of like going from Adam West’s Batman to Christian Bale’s Batman. Well, Patricia apparently asked, “Why don’t we screw with Rob’s nameplate. He thinks it’s great, so let’s ruin it.” (Seriously, she admitted to it.)

What the shit?

Now, anyone that knows me knows I’m not what’s commonly referred to as an alpha male. I’m kind of an asshole, so sure, I have some similarities, but I’m no alpha male as that term is commonly defined. So, why am I an “alpha attorney”? And even if I am, why is there a Hello, Kitty image beneath it. Someone’s confused (besides me).

Of course, I’m not angry. Despite recent societal trends, I remain focused on people’s intent, and in this case that was trying to be funny and nice. Why would I be angry about anything they did or might do? Still . . . .

What the shit?!

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Birthday #aging #happybirthday #birthday #cake

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Here’s something I haven’t done since the late 90s: Baked a cake.

The top layer is French vanilla, the bottom layer is triple chocolate fudge, and the icing is milk chocolate icing. I even did the same thing with a few cupcakes I was able to make with leftover batter. Surprisingly, the layers came out well in the cupcakes.

There might be a cupcake missing.

I don’t really celebrate my birthday, but I knew I’d have to break my diet today anyway, so I went all in. I think is shows how long it’s been since I did this . . .

. . . but it tastes as good as anyone else’s.

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Happy Birthday, William Shatner and Captain Kirk! @WilliamShatner @StarTrek #aging #happybirthday #birthday #StarTrek

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Yeah, you read that right. Captain Kirk and William Shatner were both born on March 22. Shatner was born in 1931, and Kirk will be born in 2233. This may be out of place considering that I’m writing this post on May 7, 2022, and who knows what will happen to my captain (or me) between now and then, but I wish them both well . . .

. . . because I’m delusional.

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Time Flies #aging #history #time

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This image came up in my Facebook stream.

Damn, that pisses me off. Well, here are some other things that piss me off.

  • Slumdog Millionaire‘s Oscar win (2009) is as far away from today as the Oklahoma City bombing and O.J. Simpson’s not guilty verdict (1995).
  • The cloning of Dolly the Sheep (1997) is as far away from today as the premiere of All in the Family and the 26th Amendment lowering the voting age to 18 (1971).
  • George Bush 43’s ultimatum to Saddam Hussein (1991) is as far away from today as Alaska’s and Hawaii’s admissions as states (1959).
  • The USA Olympic hockey team’s Miracle on Ice (1980) is as far away from today as Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and the delivery of the first B-17 bombers to the US Army Air Corps (1937).
  • My birth (1968) is as far away from today as the US Coast Guard’s status as “military“ and Detroit’s first stop sign (1915).

I’m old.

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Cake @TheAndrewNadeau #aging #happybirthday #birthday #cake

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No, not them!

I don’t really celebrate my birthday, but . . . .

Go ahead and check, motherfuckers!

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In case the tweet is ever deleted.

I’m About to Turn 54 @blink182 #aging #happybirthday #birthday #music

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Once a decade for an entire year, I get to make myself the subject when I sing Blink 182’s What’s My Age Again? Today is the last day of that year. Sing it for me as well. See you in 9 years.

0:57

I’m still a child.

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Aging #aging #happybirthday #birthday

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My birthday is coming up next month. Fun fact: My birthday is as far from today as it was from 1914. What was going on in 1914 (no earlier than May 17)?

  • England passes the Irish Home Rule Bill. My maternal, maternal, great grandmother was probably pleased.
  • Honus Wagner becomes the first baseball player in the 20th century with 3,000 career hits.
  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated.
  • The Royal Naval Air Service is established.
  • Babe Ruth makes his Major League debut.
  • World War I begins.
  • A ton of other war stuff.

How about some innovations and inventions?

  • The first electric traffic light is installed at Euclid Ave. and East 105 St. in Cleveland, OH.
  • Oxymorphone (related to morphine) is developed.
  • Stainless steel items spread through the general public.
  • A perfumer, Puig, is founded.
  • Woodman’s of Essex, a Boston clam shack, opens.

Births of people (no one of note on May 17)

  • Superman actor George Reeves (died before I was born).
  • Boxer Jersey Joe Walcott
  • Actor Alec Guinness
  • Actor Ray Walston
  • Baseball’s Joe DiMaggio

Source: Wikipedia. So, perhaps none of this is true.

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