Ever since that fateful day in 1943 when chickens were being sacrificed for the cause, I’ve been doing what comes naturally: Aging. Mainly, I have refused to let that slow me down. None-the-less, there are certain aspects of the process that are impossible to avoid. Some of them, I have captured in the cards I create. Any hares I have misrepresented, I have totally done so on purpose.
You know you are growing older when:
Other aspects of aging are more personal.
“What?” is heard around here a lot. Flexibility, strength, and balance are also on the line. As the world renown Sci-Fi Fantasy author, Ursula K. Le Guin, noted in her book, No Time to Spare, “If I’m ninety and believe I am forty five, I’m headed for a very bad time getting out of the bathtub.” No doubt about it. I’d like to counter that, however. If you are forty five and behave like you are ninety, you are in much worse trouble. Admittedly, Peggy and I tend to push the envelope when it comes to ‘age-related’ activities. I didn’t encounter any other 75-year-olds on my 750 mile backpack trip down the Pacific Crest Trail. Peggy, who was 68 at the time, backpacked 300 of the miles with me. Our adventures continue. The two of us just completed a 12,000 mile trip around the US pulling a trailer and dodging things like buffalo and tornados. We tried to keep our speed at 65 or under. Iorek, our powerful F-150, would speed up to 70 if we didn’t pay attention. Once, when we were having a serious discussion about the sex lives of prairie dogs, I looked down and he was going 80.
I realize we are lucky health-wise. Part of the reason is we live an active life style and practice moderation in eating and other lifestyle choices. More importantly, from my perspective, is maintaining a ‘can do’ attitude and filling our time with things we have fun doing, look forward to, and contribute something back to the community, even if it’s nothing more than giving people a laugh when they are reading our blogs, or inspiring them to try something new.
I just spent the last week working on my plans for the year, as I do every New Year. To bring Le Guin back into the equation, there is no time to spare. This is certainly true for a soon-to-be 80 year old. But it is also true for anyone. Life’s short. Once again, we are planning lots of travel. We will be celebrating my birthday on a riverboat chugging up the Nile River in Egypt. It’s been on my bucket list forever. Trips to Mexico, the eastern Canadian Provinces, Hawaii and the big game parks in Africa are also on our agenda. Thinking of big game parks, I just thought of another card. A lion is staring out across the Serengeti Plains which is filled with really evil looking gnus. His comment: “Bad gnus, bad gnus— everywhere I look, bad gnus.” A sign of the times.
Writing, card development, and photography will continue to be central to what I do. As in the past, I will share much of it on our blog. It is my intention to get back to revising and writing my books: The Bush Devil Ate Sam, and Bear Tales. Both came to a halt with our move this past year. Peggy is helping with the blog, working on a quilt for her niece, and a word search book that will feature petroglyphs. Family and friends will also be a focus. G’ma and G’pa will be kept busy. With a little luck, I will also get into mischief. I usually do. Check with my lawyer. Our daughter Tasha, gave this to me for Christmas.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Thank you for this inspirational post! I love that you are living life to the fullest and still having fun!
And thank you… As long as we can! 🙂
Loved the drawings of the hare.. very much typical for our age.. life must go on to follow the hare.. love your blogs..please add pictures of your quilt you are by making while Curt climbs trees..
Linda Rakela
RV friend and Quilter
Rocklin Ca
Thanks, Linda. I’ll be sure to add Peggy’s quilt when she gets it done. 🙂 –Curt
Wishing you a wonderful year Curt.
We are lucky to be here and able to move on. Too many do not have that privilege; I just received the obituary for a high school classmate who was looking great when we saw him in October.
We are lucky, Ray. My sister’s husband passed way last week and my sister in 2022. My brother four years ago. I’m the last man standing, so to speak, in my family. I plan to keep on appreciating the fact that I am able to ‘move on.’ –Curt
Sounds like a fantastic year ahead. May you enjoy to the max!
Absolutely. I spent my afternoon reading up on our Egypt trip. Exciting!
Your big 8-0 is sneaking right up on you. I couldn’t believe it when I saw this. Wasn’t it just last year you went hiking to celebrate your 75th? Yikes! is the only way to put it, but you sure look good!!
Thanks G. 🙂 How time flies!
I am looking forward to more adventures with Curt! Life is never dull around him….grin. Peggy
Wouldn’t want you to get bored. 🙂
Or around you! You both keep each other inspired. ❤
I also look forward to your stories and explorations with Pedro! Thank you for your comment, my friend.
Wonderful post. Looking forward to hearing about more adventures when you are left unsupervised.
Thanks, Peggy. And laughing.
Wishing you many more years of mischief Curt!
Now that’s a great wish, Cindy! 🙂 The best to you in 2023.
I love this post so much Curt!! I always look forward to reading about your adventures. Keep on keepin on my friend!
Thanks much, Sylvia. Appreciated. Peggy and I have every intention of keeping on, keeping on… as long as we can get away with it. –Curt
Seventy-five is creeping up on me, and that number is unreal on so many levels. Happily, I still feel like there is lots more to experience and enjoy in life. I can joke about mortality and not fear the ending of my story because I have no regrets.
Congratulations on the 80th on your horizon! Climbing the tree is the best way to enjoy the scene. I once did it, climbed a tree, to hear a warbler’s song in its element…. It was sublime, ethereal! The tree died and was cut down since. I’m still here with my memory of a birdsong and the sensation of being in the tree.
We had a 75 foot cedar next to our house in an old graveyard when I was growing up, Doug. Some of my happiest memories as a child were playing in that tree. I thought I could see the whole world from the top.
That’s a great perspective to have, Dave. And one I share. Well, maybe a few regrets, but they are far outweighed by all of the positive experience in my life.
Tree-climbing was a favorite activity when I was a kid. I was in my 30s when FI climbed the tree to hear the bird song.
I say that was a very appropriate activity for being 30, Doug. Or 10. Or 60.
The later one is in life, I assure you, using a ladder to get to the first big branch is acceptable. LOL!
LOL for sure!
A very special year for you — you don’t seem to be slowing down at all. Have a wonderful celebration!
“you don’t seem to be slowing down at all” Not if we can help it, AC. 🙂 The best to you in 2023. –Curt
Congrats on being able to maintain good health – physically and mentally!
50/50 luck and effort. 🙂 Thanks Margy. Have a great year. –Curt
So glad to hear how eagerly you are embracing a year with 80 in it! Congratulations on your attitude and perspective, and happy birthday in March. I know three other people with birthdays on March 3, so you make #4. What a fun year ahead that you have planned! Kellen and I were on the Nile, and I decided that I actually do like cruises, as long as they are in a river. It is just marvelous to watch the world go by from the upper deck, like you did in Germany. Big wildlife on the African continent is another of my biggest travel dreams, so I am eager to hear from you both once you get to experience that one. This year we only have Mexico planned, and my travel buddy Margaret might tempt me to Serbia and Montenegro, but otherwise, I do not know what travel I’ll engage in during 2023. Soon enough, I’ll find out though. Receding hareline….funny.
Darn, Crystal, only #4 on your March 3 list. And here I wanted so much to be #1. Grin. We are eager for the Nile trip. I have been working my way through the details. I remember talking to you about your trip. As for the big game parks. Considering I was last there in 1965, it’s probably time. What are your plans for Mexico? We are looking for a non-touristy small beach town. Do such places still exist?
Wow, the time flies really fast, it was like yesterday when you hiked PCT on the 75. But I’m glad you have wonderful plans for 2023, wishing you best of health, and fun, to both of you!
Christie
Thanks, Christie. Yeah, time has a way of sneaking past. Wasn’t I just 8 yesterday? 🙂 The best to you as well. –Curt
It shocked me a bit to read that you’re going to be 80. Then, I realized that I’ll be turning 76, my two best friends are 85 and 93 respectively, and we’ll all chugging on, in our way. And of course there’s the locally famous fisherman who’s still at it despite being 89; he wears a tee shirt that say, “Carpe Carp.”
I’m reading more and more articles about the important role that optimism and a positive attitude play in healthy aging, and you and Peggy sure could be the poster kids for that approach. Best wishes for the coming year, to you both: after all, Peggy’s the one who has to put up with your shenanigans!
Peggy just said she likes my shenanigans. 🙂 And I’m not alone in that department, Linda. Laughing. And I agree that attitude and optimism have an important role to play.
One of my all time favorites in the growing old with grace category was Orvis Agee, my backpacker on the Sierra Trek who started backpacking with me at 70 and did his last trek at 87. I’ve always held him up as an inspiration. The 87 Trek was Peggy’s first.
Folks like you are an inspiration when folks like me (a mere almost 66) feel a little creaky. If you and Peggy can do it, I can’t justify just sitting on my laurels.
Although that seems like an odd thing to sit on in any case.
Now sitting up in a laurel tree… That might be an objective. 🙂 One of my mantras: Okay, Curt, you can do this. I can occasionally hearing my body saying, Oh shit!
Yes, and may the adventures keep coming for you, Peggy and bone. Age hardly ever enters my mind and at 82 feel as normal as I did at 81 or 18. One keeps going upright as much as possible. As the Greek Theodorakis danced and said, “Strose to stroma sou”.
I had to look that one up, Gerard. 🙂 Agreed. But hopefully without fitted sheets. Grin. Thanks. We will continue having adventures of some kind or the other as long as nature allows!
happy 45th birthday going on soon to be 81 Curt, just 4 days after mine. Another year rear around the sun with so much wisdom, light, heart, energy, strength and love! You are amazing!
💗
And happy birthday to you as well, Cindy. Another Pisces. 🙂 And thanks. The years do have a way of hurrying by. I’m slowing mine down. Grin.
Oh thanks my friend. I don’t get a bd this year again remember?! lol. They sure do. I want what your drinking..(to slow them down). Grin! 💞
Was 39 the last one? 🙂
I will never live to be 29 my dearest.. you just aged me.. I’ll be 17 next trip around the sun! ❣️
Reverse growing, the best way, Cindy. 🙂 I don’t have to dig very deep to discover the teenage in me, either. Grin.
My Mom just turned 80 in December and we celebrated with a painting party since she loves art. Not sure that what I created while sipping cabernet could be classified as art, but we all had fun. Hope you have a blast observing this milestone!
Thanks, T. Sounds like a great way to celebrate. And what better than cabernet to free up the creative inspiration. 🙂 –Curt
Curt, they say age is all in the mind and therefore you are still that little tyke! Your adventurous positive spirit will never allow you to grow old, yes, the numbers go up somehow, perhaps the trees you can climb are slightly shorter than before but wow, what an incredible year of travelling! I am in awe of you both and what amazing sights you’ve seen and fantastic experiences of you’ve had – you have no time to grow old!
Good luck with your book revisions / rewriting, Curt!
Wishing you and Peggy a fabulous 2023! 😀
“No time to grow old.” My mantra, Annika. 🙂 Thanks! And back at you for a great 2023.
Happy Almost Birthday, Curt! You are a great role model for aging and what it does and doesn’t mean for us. My parents are 90 and 91, and they have used the same method as you for staying young: never stopping the adventure! Here’s to many more for you – supervised and unsupervised – especially that awesome trip to Egypt!
Thanks. Lexi! 🙂
Being active and having things to look forward to definitely helps. Can’t discount luck either. We realize how fortunate we are. Here’s hoping we do as well as your parents. And I am excited about Egypt!