Guest Writer – Allen Wood; I Got Old

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what they say. I hum my songs and march ahead.  ∼ Bhuwan Thapaliya

Allen with his friend, the late Joe Galloway

Allen Wood is a 79-year-old retired marketing executive, born on a cotton farm in South Georgia. Allen grew up in middle Georgia and attended the University of Georgia. He served in the military from 1968 to 1970, including tours of duty in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged as an E6 Staff Sergeant. He’s lived in Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas and California. He loves to travel for fishing and says he will die with a fishing rod in his hands.

Through his writing, Allen still serves his fellow man; sharing his observations and take on life. Allen has shared this piece for my blog, I believe you will enjoy it.

               I Got Old

                    Allen Wood

Age came and tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hello Allen, I’m here”.

I never saw it coming or even thought about it arriving anytime soon. But there it was…old age.

I have never been afraid of death; it holds no mysteries for me. It’s one more of those “been there, done that” kinds of things for me.

The thought that I am getting too old to do all the things I used to do is completely new to me. And I hate it. So much.

Age first showed up on my hands. Yes, my hands. They no longer look like they used to. They are not as firm and tough as they were just yesterday. Now I have to worry about bumping my hands on something and getting a damn big bruise.

It’s just different.

Not difficult, just different for me.

I didn’t particularly want to get this old. I know many others who did not make it to my age. My Sister was the hardest one to lose. She was younger than I am, and she died so hard.

From all this comes my discovery of the “moment”. The joy of learning to live and enjoy the moment that I am in. Seeing new things and seeing familiar things, differently now.

The “moment” is very important.

The “moment” is all I have.

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