50 Ways to Leave your 50s

In my fourth book, In it for the Long Run, one of the most popular chapters with the readers was 'You can call me Al.' It was all about my good friend Al Barker, the only person I've ever met who brakes with his left foot. Wanting to capitalize on the popularity of using titles of Paul Simon songs, I reviewed his repertoire for an applicable title for this book. Since the book is about my last year on earth before turning 60 years of age, I initially considered 'Slip Slidin' Away' but thought that might project a negative connotation towards getting older. Instead I chose one of Simon's more popular songs and gave it my own slant as I wanted to do 50 things I'd never done before in the 12 months leading up to becoming a sexagenarian (don't get the wrong idea--it just means a person between 60 and 69 years of age). On my 60th birthday (December 10, 2014) someone asked me how I felt. I said 'just like I did when I was 59. Heck, it was only yesterday' (although my grandson calls it 'lasterday' which if you really think about it makes a lot more sense). As for the 50 things I'd never done before. don't expect anything outrageous (jumping out of an airplane), dangerous (wrestling an alligator) or spectacular (making a dinosaur appear--but if I could my grandson would be SO impressed). Just 50 things pretty much anyone could do...as long as they have the right attitude. And by 'right attitude' I mean 'sometimes you just have to say what the ___.' Just because I turned 60 doesn't mean I reached maturity overnight. After all, maturity is for old people.