become so totally immersed in the day-to-day operations of this business like I've done in my past jobs. However, we all bring what we bring to the table and being a sideline observer is not something I’m very good at. One of the things I used to tell people is how I thrived on dealing with adversities, scheduling conflicts, and in bringing resolutions to difficult issues and problems. After 45-plus years of banging my head against the wall, I’m not sure thriving is the appropriate word for how I react to these same challenges today.Not
caring is not an option for me. There are tensions in every part of any successful enterprise; so, I’m certainly not interested in having an easy time of it. It has more to do with the current status of my abilities to handle a variety of complexities at the same time. There’s the physical stuff to deal with at age 62. For instance, I used to never drop anything but more and more I find stuff somehow leaping out of my grip. There’s the diabetes which I blame all kinds of things on to the extent that people fill in the blank for me, saying, “We know, it’s your CONDITION.” No, I’m not ready to throw in any towels, but what used to be easy for me is not as easy anymore. I still love to be in the middle of everything but after twelve hours of doing so I leave the battlefield pretty well spent.Add to that the fact that this particular business is one that I know littl
e about in terms of the technical aspects which keeps me hopping to tap dance my way through many of the issues that come up. I know I am contributing and I know the Company appreciates what I do and in particular the areas of management expertise I do have. However, it does become an issue, over time, as to whether I can be strong enough to adequately meet the growing requirements. I can certainly tell you I’m not interested in sleeping late every day or somehow laying up in a hammock somewhere. But time does have a way of speaking to us all in a language that’s hard to ignore.I
well remember telling my first line managers that on their very best day they were no match for me. It was a joke, but at that time, way back then, they and I knew it was also true. I also would tell them if they wanted to keep up with me they had better get there early and plan on staying all day. Those smart aleck remarks are not quite so easy to sustain these days but I’m still in there, at least trying to make a game of it. No one likes to admit they are less able to function like they once could but it is part of this gravity driven aging process.King Solomon had tremendous wisdom and he spoke about what it means to grow
older. In the final 12th Chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon uses some very colorful language to put this into perspective. Here’s some selected parts of the text from the New Living Translation: 1) Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2) Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3) Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before yo
ur eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. 4) Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. 5) Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper,……. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. 6) Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7) For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
older. In the final 12th Chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon uses some very colorful language to put this into perspective. Here’s some selected parts of the text from the New Living Translation: 1) Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2) Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3) Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before yo
ur eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. 4) Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. 5) Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper,……. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. 6) Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7) For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
I know this all sounds kind of depressing but he ended up with some very wonderful advice that is worth passing on to folks of all ages. Here’s his summary of what 
we should be concerned about throughout our lifetime. 13) That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14) God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Okay. Enough for one day, now I’ll hurry up and read that article on anti-aging techniques one more time. Don't forget to have a great day! ….More later.
we should be concerned about throughout our lifetime. 13) That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14) God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Okay. Enough for one day, now I’ll hurry up and read that article on anti-aging techniques one more time. Don't forget to have a great day! ….More later.
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