Harold Keller / L’Observateur / October 11, 1999

About a month ago, as I was taking my daily walk, I heard a loud voice saying, “Hey, old man!” Being assured he wasn’t speaking to me, I kept walking and didn’t turn around. Again, in a loud voice, I heard, “Old man,I’m talking to you!” Now, that got my attention and I, curiously, turned around. You guessed it! He was talking to me. I knew the man and helaughed as we faced each other.

I’ll never forget, a few years ago, when my wife and I were walking in the mall and we met someone with whom we had gone to school. After weseparated, Jeanne said, “Harold, do we look that old?” I smiled and said, “The bad news is yes.”Getting old isn’t that bad, as long as we don’t act old. I recently had my65th birthday. Do I feel 65? No. Do I look 65? Yes. Am I considered old?Yes. I am considered a senior citizen. People never question giving me asenior discount. Did I resent being called an old man? Not really, butreality has started to set in.

I remember my dad dying at the age of 48. I was 18 at the time and to mehe was old. At 65, I’ve known the excitement of seeing lives changed, thesadness of seeing lives ruined, and the monotony of seeing lives unchanged – people only existing, not really living.

At 65, I wouldn’t change places with anybody. God has abundantly blessedmy family and me. Blessings come in many ways. The material ones areeasy to identify and appreciate. I believe that spiritual blessings are themost lasting.

The greatest blessing I’ve had is the people that God has put into my life.

Real people make true friends. In the last few years, God has blessedJeanne and me with true friends. A few of them got together last Sundayand gave me a surprise birthday party, which turned out to be total surprise to me. The food was great! The presents were nice, but the trueblessing was the love expressed to my family and me by my friends.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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