3/27/2008

HALFWAY THERE

Somewhere I once read, “A wise man turneth not back on a journey half completed.” I’m inclined to think it was Benjamin Franklin except for the “eth” part. I think that's mostly used in The Bible and in certain Amish communities so I’ll just leave it as an anonymous quotation.

However, the main thrust of the statement is, in layman’s terms, “If you are halfway there, why turn back? It’s just as far back as it is to completion."

Anyway, that’s the way I feel today. As far back as I can remember I’ve always dreamed of being 170 years old and that has steadily been my goal. Well, those of you who are eagle-eyed enough to catch such things, will notice a new picture of me to the right. You may have wondered why I am looking upward. You also may have spotted the answer to that question. In the message at the top you might notice I am NOW 85-years old – exactly halfway to my goal. Well, it was “exactly” yesterday. Today I am well on my way.

In order that you might join me in properly celebrating this event I am providing you with a larger picture, suitable for framing. I would invite you to join me in a party with champagne and cake and all those good things. but I’m 85 years old! You don’t get to be 85 with champagne and cake and such things. In addition, blowing out 85 candles could be a life-threatening thing at this age.

I think that’s a pretty neat picture and I have no idea what I really was looking at. However, I did discover it was a nice pose if one has any kind of abnormal skin under the chin – not that I do.

Many of you know that I owe whatever good health I have to my lady, Jen-Chi, and by the oddest coincidence we both happen to be born on March 26th.

I think she looks pretty great too especially with her being -- oops -- a gentleman never mentions a lady's age. I'm a year younger than she is.

This would be a good time for me to express my sincere thanks to those of you who have sent kind messages over the years – both of you.

The Old Professor

Carmel, CA

March 27, 2008