"When I'm 64..."

That was a famous line from a Beatles song many years ago, and today it came true for me, as now I am 64!  Way back then it seemed so far away that it would never arrive.  Now that it's here, it's kinda hard to believe.  My annual physical yesterday made it real, though, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol now tops on my list of physical priorities.  Thought they were under control, but obviously need more work.

Last Thursday began a whirlwind of activity for me with Thirsty Thursday at McCormick Field, home of the Asheville Tourists baseball team.  They serve 12 ounce beers for $2, and I had a few Highland Gaelic Ales, one of my local favorites.  The home team eked out a 4-3 victory which wasn't decided until the last pitch of the last inning.  It was a very good game!

On Friday I traveled east to visit family and attend a wedding.  That night Derick and I went to a street party in beautiful downtown Varina, NC, and I discovered Aviator Brewing Co., a local brewery with fine beers that began just down the street from Derick's house.  We had a very fine time and were up until 3am!  Yep, you read that right.  "Dead Fred" stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning!

I rarely read the hand washing signs in bathrooms, but for some reason this one caught my attention and gave me a good chuckle.  Very creative folks!  And their beer is very good, too!

On Saturday I went with Derick and the granddaughters to the home of his friends, Tony and Karen, to enjoy their pool on a hot summer day. It was so much fun!  I talked Leah into feeding me corn chips while I stayed in the pool.  We laughed a lot and just enjoyed each other and the cool water.

That night I attended the wedding of long time friend Bruce Curran and his beautiful bride, Sudi Swirles, at their lovely home in Durham, NC.  Bruce and I met when we were both employed at Carolina Power & Light Co ( now Progress Energy) back in the 80's.  I was manager of training and he was in charge of video program production.  We discovered that we both had gone to school at Carolina and both flew in the Air Force, with his favorite plane being the one I trained pilots in.  Later on we became golfing buddies and thoroughly enjoy each others' company.  It was a very fine wedding and I'm so happy for them!  As you see, their dog, TJ, was the ring bearer.

Sunday morning left me with some time to spare before church, so I headed for Shelly Lake, just a few blocks from where LaVern and I lived and the place where we often walked our dogs.  It was also the place where I proposed to her several years ago.  Over time I had gone from walking with the her and our 2 dogs, to her a 1 dog, then me and her, and finally just me.  The sad moment came so quickly, I was shocked.  I was also coming down with a cold and hadn't slept well the previous 2 nights, leaving me more than a bit vulnerable.  So I did what I had done so many times before and recited the Serenity Prayer.  As always, it calmed me down and brought me peace.  All those sad changes have lead to many happy changes and so "life is like the river, it flows on and on", said Lao Tse.

Sunday afternoon I had lunch with good friends Alan Briggs and Cathy Butler.  It was so good to catch up with them and the goings on at Unity Church, where I was so involved for so long.  That night I had dinner at the home of good friend Jan Wynns, and as you see, the setting was lovely.  We had lamb on the grill with corn on the cob, a delicious salad and wine.  It was a thoroughly delightful day with old friends. 

Tomorrow I leave Fletcher for Forest, VA and a week with Barbara and family before beginning my westward trek.  I'm still recovering from this cold, a rare occurrence, and sore arms from 2 shots, so my excitement level is not as high as it might normally be.  But I am excited!  It will be one of the greatest adventures of my life for many reasons and I hope to keep you posted as it unfolds.  Here are a couple of major headlines from my birth year, 1947:

"31 million radios are in use in America but another medium is slowly being built by the radio companies - television.  By the end of the year, America has 139 TV stations, but only about 9,000 TV sets. "

Prices:  Milk, $.80; postage stamp, $0.03; Bread, $.12;  and the big one, gas, $.18.

My oh my how far we've come!  Or have we?