Man, I'm Getting Old!!!

It's fitting that I start this blog with the words "back in the day," cause I find myself referencing to them quite often lately.  Every time I do, I get a quick mental picture of my dad telling me some story that I no doubt rolled my eyes over as a kid.  Flash forward to 2013 and my daughter's eyes roll more than a set of dice on the Las Vegas strip.  One of the things I do the most is reference how the whipper snappers of this generation have no clue what it was like to grow up like we did.  I mean, do kids even play outside anymore?  I got behind a school bus the other morning that stopped at every kid on the bus' house!  I clearly remember walking a half mile to one designated stop that the whole neighborhood met at.  If we didn't walk, we had our identity on wheels…the bike.  Each of our bike's showed your personality, tastes, and in a nutshell, your social status.  I was a huffy guy wheareas the "rich" kids drove mongoose and otherwise.  If we were lucky, at the end of the night we could have an hour or so playing Atari.  I think i still hold the record for  Defender but don't quote me on that.  Another huge problem I have is that I can't get into much new music.  I find myself going backwards in my music catalog.  The classics are as fresh to me as the mundane crap that's popular these days.  Even in TV I find myself gravitating towards Antiques Roadshow instead of the popular new shows.  My body is by far the best indicator of losing my spring chicken status.  Hangovers used to last hours and now last days.  I have hair growing out of places that just aren't natural.  I have a grey hair that is in my right ear that requires monthly maintenance.  My eyebrows look like Bert from sesame street and I can damn near put a weave or braid my nipple hair.  I took my 12 year old to meet her teachers and was told that I was embarrasing her.  That was when it hit me.  Never in my life did I think I would become that.  I had come to the realization that even though my youth was behind me, I have a new chapter of my life to enjoy and embrace.  These are the best days of my life.  All the lessons learned in my youth can now be applied so that I don't make the same mistakes I made when I was younger.  I've learned who my true friends are.  I learned who I am.  This life is no longer about just me.  It's about establishing a FUTURE with the ones I love.  To that, I say bring it on.  If my hair turns grey or falls out, it'll be with no resistance from me.  If my hip breaks, at least I know I can count on my loved ones to get around.  Seeing a concert from the seats instead of the mosh pit does have it's advantages.  To the memories i've made and the ones that will come, I say till next time peeps.  I think theres a Matlock marathon on today.