The saying has been credited to everyone from Willie Nelson to the late Paul Neuman to the late Betty Davis. While I would like to believe that a person can let their guard down as they move into retirement it is not always the case.
What happens? For some it was coming off the corporate tread mill and finally having more than 10 minutes for breakfast and coffee…maybe even time enough for a quick skim of the newspaper. For others it is a time when the decision has been made that I am gonna take it easy, no matter what. But like the best laid plans of mice and men, the dream sometimes misses. Boredom, blood pressure and patience begin to weight you down and the next thing, “Old Age” begins slowing you down.
My old age began about 9 years ago when I had triple by-pass surgery followed in three years by three stents. I had already been diagnosed with COPD, so felt I had survived the worst of it and was still a man in my 50’s. Retirement came years later following a few trips to the hospital for Mycoplasma Pneumonia. If you are not familiar, these are are germs that reside in the lungs and are neither bacterial or viruses. They serve as a reminder that even when we are feeling well, something in the system can be working against you.
Feeling that we had the world by the tail, we retired and moved south. Bought a beautiful home (still getting some fix up attention) and thought this is going to be GREAT! Beautiful home, lovely wife, great weather…what more could one ask for? New Years Eve morning with a little ice on the patio and when letting the dog in, a slip, a fall, a broken hip! Now I am old enough to know pain, but this really, really hurt and so for the next three days I stayed inside…the hospital that is. There have been some other ailments, but the point of this isn’t me, it is about getting older, feeling like you have life under control and then crumbling.
We all have friends that have been healthy their entire life…until they retire and decide to have some fun and bang. Several of us in the over 60 crowd have talked about what we should have done to sneak up on old age, however those conversations don’t last as long as they should because none of us want to admit that we have reached “OLD AGE.”
When I first heard the saying “Old Age Ain’t For Sissies” I laughed. Now when I say it, I feel it is a statement of truth. Don’t take old age for granted because it can get you!
OK, so who is it? If you are one of the many listeners to Rush Limbaugh you realize that he is truly the spokesman for the Conservative Republican. That is he appears to be running the show while the RNC Chief Michael Steele appears to be doing his imitation of a new puppy…roll over and show your tummy.
What is happening with the Republicans? A loss of power in the White House and to add insult to injury, loss of seats in the House and Senate. Combine that with the fact that the winner in the General Election was not a Washington insider! It’s enough to cause a Republican Conservative to cry “foul.” They have and continue to do so.
In an attempt to off set the major victory by President Obama, the RNC immediately appointed Michael Steele their leader. The polling bump was not there, so why not turn your back on an Economic Stimulas Plan, it might get some attention. OOOPS, they did it! Still, no bump in the opinion polls. Maybe talking about tax cuts would work. Tax cuts worked for former President Bush (W), but when people are losing jobs at a record rate, a tax cut? Usually a tax cut affects those with jobs…any questions?
Enter the Rotund Savior. Limbaugh, who has been quoted several times as saying “He hopes the President fails” has given the conservatives a voice. His radio program has become the pulpit for those that have had none and while it is a pulpit the ego may not let others participate. Michael Steele has even apologized to Rush. Rush has gone on record to wanting to debate President Obama and he has been spewing forth his brand of tripe in an attempt to get conservatives fired up. In some cases he has done so, while in others there are Republicans that are beginning to run from the fray.
Should the President debate Limbaugh? HELL NO! Limbaugh is a performer whose act includes dramatics, shock and an ego that probably wouldn’t fit in the average hall used for debating. As for the President, he is spending more time on the economy and trying to restore America than anyone in the past 8 years and for him to take his eye off the ball with a half baked debate would be a travesty!
Limbaugh’s ego is growing and there is a distinct possibility that with the amount of publicity he is currently receiving, his little bubble might burst spewing empty words and challenges into the atmosphere. Sorry, but Rush doesn’t have a clue!