On Turning 55

How old am I? I’m old enough to still imagine that turning 55 represents some sort of milestone.

Not so, apparently.

I knew that the retirement age had gone up to 65, and crept beyond that for most people, but I didn’t realize the coveted senior discounts and all the other benefits of “old age” rose with it.

That’s fine with me. If society doesn’t consider me a senior citizen, I’ll be damned if I’m going to consider myself one!

Milestone or not, today I turn 55 years old.

It’s too early to say how the day will play out. Michelle supposedly has the day off, but may need to go into town for a meeting. If I still expect to bag a moose, today is my last day to do so—the hunt has been so successful, they’re closing it at midnight tonight, a whole week early. I also have the last firewood tree for the winter laying on the ground, and I need to buck, chop, and stack it for drying. Today will be another day of homestead living, with a birthday celebration squeezed in around the edges.

But, hopefully I’ll get a short Skype with Aly, and calls from my siblings, father, and perhaps in-laws. We’ll have cake, most certainly (see Recipe: “Mom’s” Chocolate Cherry Cake) and it looks like the birthday boy gets lasagne for dinner!

We will celebrate not only my 55th birthday, but the start of October, a particularly wonderful month in our homestead year.

As for turning 55, I don’t dread it. As I mentioned 5 years ago, in this neighborhood, it doesn’t mean much (see I’m 50, Dammit!).

By the way, this Saturday I’ll participate in another author event at the Haines Borough Library along with Heather Lende, Nick Jans, Debi Knight Kennedy, and Judy Hall Jacobson!

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4 Responses to On Turning 55

  1. Angie says:

    A little late, but Happy Birthday, you fine-looking old(er) guy, you!
    I find the best birthdays are the ones where you spend the day doing productive things, then have a well-earned, low-key, private celebration in the evening.
    Congratulations on an excellent first half-century.

  2. Mark Zeiger says:

    Thanks, Angie. You’re so right. I saw this and liked it: “At my age, an “all nighter” means I slept through without having to get up to pee.” Good enough for my peace of mind!

  3. Angie says:

    Love the quote. And I’m always surprised when I find out how old some of our friends and neighbors are in this place. It’s all that snow-shovelling, moose-hunting and impromptu home repair that keeps us young.
    I plan to spend my next birthday splitting wood.

  4. Mark Zeiger says:

    Let me know when your birthday is, I might even come and help out!

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