November 28, 2014, San Diego- I woke today, looked in the mirror and lo & behold: There was a face that looked every bit of sixty-four. I’ve always regarded looking one’s age as a sign of a life well-lived. Acting one’s age, that’s another matter. After all, men old enough to be my father have made no bones about going after young women. That’s not my style, though. I had a fine marriage, have a son who is contemporary with the aforementioned ladies and besides, I enjoy the company of people of all ages, as friends, at this stage of my life. Maturity, for sixty-somethings and older, is a choice.
I’ve thought a fair amount about privilege. In some ways, I enjoy it; I don’t have to worry about being pulled over by police, just because of the type of vehicle I’m driving. I can go anywhere I can afford to go. I am not followed around by store security, even when I’m “dressed down”. No one asks me my business, when I’m in a public place. I could, conceivably, be hassled by people, when in some parts of Hawai’i , or Mexico or any number of Native American communities. So far, though, that hasn’t happened. I was treated just fine in the Honolulu area, have visited Yaqui, Tohono O’Odham, Navajo and Hopi communities, with no unpleasant events and drove a friend to Mexico a few years ago, without any sense of imminent danger.
What I don’t enjoy, though, is seeing people who are just trying to get from A to B, being hassled. I also don’t like seeing miscreants try to poke holes through civility, by creating a scenario of “racism”. Every person should obey the law, not take what isn’t his/hers and refrain from bullying people who are trying to make an honest living. Every person is also entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labours, earn a decent living wage and not have to sneak across borders to do so. There is a lot, an immense amount of work to be done in that regard.
I got a lot done this past year, and will get more accomplished in the year ahead. (Details in next post). For today, though, I am content to head up to La Jolla, hopefully see some marine mammals, hike a bit at Torrey Pines and kick back this evening with a Netflix film at my son’s apartment. Sixty-four is a fine age to be.
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