25 years. You see the anniversaries every year but suddenly they’ve all added up. There will be a million think pieces about the historical significance of that day and it’s context to today. Eyewitness accounts. Better and smarter people than me. But the timing is analogous to what I’ve been thinking about this week.
Getting older has been knocking around in my head a lot recently. Why? No one reason. All the stories about a quarter century passing since the most horrific attack on American soil definitely haven’t helped.
Also, I noticed that years don’t…sound right? When I hear someone talking about the year 2026…that number doesn’t seem real to me. I was reading a story about someone who was diagnosed with a disease in 2026 and that just sounded off to me. Were they predicting her diagnosis? Nope. That’s…this year. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced just not believing the year? Not messing it up. Just hearing it and it sounds ridiculous.
And for whatever reason this week I’ve been thinking about friends lost. One is my best friend who I lived with on 9/11 and is a core memory for that day (and most parts of my life). Yet another best friend was lost at the end of this month six years ago. And then THOSE memories lead to all the others. Friends. Family. They start stacking up as you get older. It makes sense but it’s not something they warn you about in the text books.
I am working towards NOT feeling like an old man. In a little over a week I am participating in my first 5K. Am I gonna run? Absolutely not! But I’m gonna do it and I’m gonna get a tee shirt for my troubles! Then I may wear that shirt to Zoo Atlanta and paint in front of people for the first time in over 4 years. I’m exercising more. I’m actively working towards feeling better at 55 than I did in my 40s. Will this help my thoughts on getting older and my own mortality and that of those I love? Almost assuredly not. I think that’s just part of the deal. But hopefully it makes this time a little more mobile. And I guess that will have to do.
Take time for yourself today. Ignore whatever absolute bloviating horsesh*t that rotten pumpkin “president” says today. His days are counting down with every tick of that Big Mac encrusted cardiovascular system.
Have a good weekend.
-The Paintmonkey