Friday, April 17, 2009

On Mortality and Aging

E-Mail received today from my older brother George ("Skipper") McDougall:

Young 'uns:
Don't look now, but today I am exactly two-thirds of a century old.
All downhill from here....
--Graybeard


My reply, sent to all my brothers, to Shirl, and to my six wonderful offspring:

Dear Unca' Skip:

You have just perceived that? I became similarly mortality-conscious on 25 August, 1978. (Three-score and ten were all I'd been promised.) Shirl will attest to the truth of my memory.

As you have seen, my reaction was merely to twist harder on the throttle. I am still at full throttle at 65, and now expect Shirl's love and the sheer joy of life to carry me to 100. If they don't, no regrets. It has been one Hell-of-a-ride.


Love, and lots of good cheer to all,

Duncan

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

...Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

"Ulysses" -Alfred Lord Tennyson

Charles