Comments

At 67-68 you're a spring chicken!

Happy Birthday, Tom.

Posted by Patrick Parker at October 15, 2009 11:48 AM

Too much work to be done TP. This is only halftime for you.

Posted by David Porter at October 15, 2009 12:26 PM

I once read a piece you'd written called "10 Good Reasons to Get Out of Bed in the Morning," or something to that effect. Have you added to your reasons for getting out of bed in the morning? What gives you such motivation?

TW.

Posted by Tim Westerbeck at October 15, 2009 2:22 PM

Well, IF I were in the lifestyle counselling business I'd suggest a bit of a review of your priorities. 67 isn't old at all, but the fact that you mention it in the same piece as multi-nights in mid-air, summers sacrificed to work, and days chock-full of demands on your time seems to hint that you feel something's out of kilter somewhere. Is this pace the thing that keeps you alive - or the thing that's going to kill you? Who's really in charge of the machine? Where does the joy come from?

As I'm not that lifestyle counsellor and you are - ahem - old enough to know what's best for you, all the above is impertinent meddling, which I hope you'll forgive, ignore or whatever. But any friend of mine telling that story would be taken out for a long beer and a longer chat about stuff. At the very least, don't miss out on any more summers in VT! Promise?

Posted by RobCH at October 16, 2009 3:46 AM

67 is a good age Tom, not old at all. The bloke around the corner is 92 and he is still going strong. He might say, as says to me, something like, "steady down". Happy birthday.

Posted by wmmbb at October 16, 2009 9:18 AM

Happy Birthday, Tom! Welcome back! You're super!

Sheez, RobCh! Get a license and hang a shingle, will ya?

There is something particularly peculiar about your comment; in fact, it's a little creepy. Perhaps you can hang that shingle elsewhere, eh?

Just saying, only opinionating…

Oh, and if I were said professional or friend I would wonder why you would even meddle publicly at all.

In other words, get your own life!

Posted by Judith Ellis at October 16, 2009 9:52 AM

Sorry you found it creepy Judith; I'll try to do better. Sadly the option of a private hotline to TP isn't available to me, so public it had to be. And yes, I did find it odd trying to find the right tone to suggest to someone I've never even been in the same room with but care about that this looked like a good time to take stock. Hence the clumsy but well-meant literary device. Should I have said nothing, or just joined in the birthday wishes? Probably - less creepy by far.

Yours, foot in mouth as always... :)

Posted by RobCH at October 16, 2009 12:28 PM

RobCH,

Please don't just follow along. Your comments are often thoughtful and appreciated. Thank you.

Your once well-advised sometimes struggling commenter... :-)

Judith

Posted by Judith Ellis at October 16, 2009 1:26 PM

RobCH - You're not alone in your encouragements to Tom to perhaps ease up on the accelerator, so to speak. Describing Tom as driven would be an understatement. Via hotline or public forum, I'm sure Tom takes your words in the spirit with which they were expressed.

Posted by Shelley Dolley at October 16, 2009 2:12 PM

Thanks Shelley. Appreciated.

Posted by RobCH at October 16, 2009 4:08 PM

RobCh,

Good post. Nothing to apologize for. You spoke from the heart.

Keep sharing and meddling.

Dave

Posted by dave at October 16, 2009 10:21 PM

Tom, you're at that point in life where it befits you to use Roman numerals for your age. Most people can't read em anyway.

Posted by John O'Leary at October 19, 2009 10:50 AM