There has been a song by Rod Stewart called "Forever Young". I think there was even an old movie by the same name. When you think of it if you are truthful maybe we all would like to be forever young. Some people say, "your as young as you feel". Which somedays we all probably feel really darn old. When multiple deaths hit you in the face full force, you want to grab a little of your youth and hold on for dear life.
My youngest brother who died way to young loved the carefree times he spent on the sea and his deep-sea fishing. He once told me although it was hard work he enjoyed his time out because he only had to focus on one thing--fishing.
I always felt my brother-in-law who recently passed was in the "forever young" catagory. His chronological age never fit his age of actions. Good or bad he lived his life by no one's rulebook.
Another recent one who was tagged "forever young" was Dick Clark. When I heard of his passing this week it brought back a flood of memories of my childhood. Each Saturday morning at 11:30a.m. my grandpa and I would flip to American Bandstand and dance in the living room together. He was an avid lover of rock-n-roll music, Little Richard, Elvis, Tina Turner. Race knew no boundaries in music for him. I guess that was one of the things I so loved about him and often wonder what he would think about music today. I listen to a wide range of music myself and have started the same with my grandchildren.
Its also said if you are around younger people that rubs off. As I get older myself I find that I prefer being around young people more. So much of my time growing up was learning from my elders that I think now is time to learn from youth. Trading aches and pains gets dull and deaths constant knocking makes me want to put my hands to my ears.
To end the week my son had to put down his dear young friend Parker. Parker was a five year old pound pup of 140 lbs. His size wore on his poor hips and a tough decision had to be made to put him down. This senario made me think back to when our family dog passed away at home while we were gone on a trip when he was in high school. My young son made the decision at the time to bury "Lady" in our backyard.
When your young decisions are hard and when you are older realities are tough. I'll just try and keep a youthful attitude and forge on....
