Tue, 9 Sep 2003

ivman update...

In the past week the membership of the ivman group has zoomed past 800. There are so many addresses now that I don't recognize. I'd really enjoy hearing from some of you to know who you are, where you live, and what kind of humor you enjoy most. As I can best reckon, the membership hales from over 20 countries, and I have no idea how many states of the USA. Please send a quick note if you haven't before. You hear from me every week, and I'd enjoy hearing from you. Of course, I'd also be happy to hear from old friends, former students, and others I know. 8-)

***
today's instant vacation...

is prompted by the reminder I had last week that I'm at the stage of life where the children of my former students are now students here at BJU. I'll start off with a poem I heard quoted last week, and I'll end with some random quotations I've received on aging.

 =^..^=  =^..^=  =^..^=   
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

One of the hardest decisions in life is when to be "middle-aged."
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JUST A LINE TO SAY I'M LIVING
(Author unknown)

Just a line to say I'm living,
That I'm not among the dead,
Though I'm getting more forgetful
And all mixed up in my head.

I got used to my arthritis,
To my dentures I'm resigned.
I can manage my bifocals,
But I sure do miss my mind.

For sometimes I can't remember
When I stand at the foot of the stairs,
If I must go up for something
Or have I just come down from there?

And before the fridge so often
My poor mind is filled with doubt.
Have I just put some food away?
Or have I come to take something out?

And there's a time, when it is dark
I  stop and hold my head.
I don't know if I'm retiring,
Or if I'm getting out of bed?

So, if it's my turn to write to you,
There's no need for getting sore--
I may think that I have written
And  don't want to be a bore.

So remember that I love you
And wish that you were near,
But now it's nearly mail time,
So I must say "Goodbye, dear."

Here I stand before the mail box
With a face so very red.
Instead of mailing you my letter
I just opened it instead.

***
Some thoughts on aging - a state of mind and/or body?...

How old would you consider yourself to be if you didn't know how old you actually were?

I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.

Say what you will about aging, but it's definitely *not* for sissies!

Eventually you reach a point when you're no longer tempted to lie about your age and you enjoy bragging about it instead.

Some people try to "turn back their odometers." Not me, I want people to know *why* I look this way. I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren't paved!

Old age is when former classmates are so gray, wrinkled, and bald that they don't recognize you.

The older you get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

You know you're getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper. Then things turn the worst when you start to forget to pull it down.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.

One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.