Living the good life.

How do I get through old age? Without being preoccupied. With dying. Yes, I know. It’s better being focused on living. And not be focused on the possibility of dropping dead. At any given moment. That used to be easy. When I was younger. In my 50s and  60s. I was still able to rationalize. ‘Oh, well, I probably have 20 or 30 years left. No need to worry. I’ll be okay.’  But now I know. That statistically. Lots of people don’t make it out of their 80s. Alive, that is. Don’t know many 90-year-olds. They are relatively few and far between. And I’m not so certain that I want to be 90. If I’m a little too decrepit. Anyway, I’m occasionally haunted by the feeling of running out of time. Like to shove that thought aside. By taking life. One day at a time.  Not getting too far ahead. By fretting about the future. But in my low moments. Late at night. When I’m tired. I do. Suppose that goes for other octogenarians. As they fumble through remaining life. Maybe I should be more thankful. That I’m creeping, relatively unscathed, into the waning years of old age. Still active. Mentally and physically and emotionally. With plans to go live with my Italian amore. In Sardinia. Later this winter. Hopefully, I’ll still be around for a few more winters. Living the good life. --Jim Broede