It’s hot outside, finally. And sunny. And, I am now 70 years old. What can I tell you about this old man on this side of the keyboard? Well, it’s both complex and quite simple. I have a man’s body that is aging. There isn’t the same vigour as when I was in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s. But at the same time, I can walk 15 to 20 miles [20 to 30 km] on any given day without collapsing of a heart attack. I used to run these distances, but not anymore.
My relationships with others is always evolving as far as I can see. As I age, so does my good wife, a ballet of sorts where we constantly find ourselves inventing new moves on the dance floor of our life together so that we continue to appear to those who watch us dance through our life, that we are beautiful dancers, skilled dancers who fit so well to the onlookers. Literally, we do dance very well together and are always complimented on that fact. Yet, behind the scenes, like in every relationship, there are a lot of stumbles and frustrations. It doesn’t seem to be getting easier as we get older, to maintain the coordinated dance moves.
My passions keep shifting as I age. I have become more quiet, though I have never been one to speak out easily – my introversion doesn’t seem to change with the decades of life. Since I can remember, I have been fascinated with images, writing, music and psychology/philosophy. Nothing has changed, yet the shifting between one and the other as the new primary focus makes it appear as though change is happening.
I have finally reached that stage in life where I can honestly say that I don’t worry what others thing, I have published books with images that expose so much of who I am, books that expose my worldview, and I have shared these with family and friends. Some acknowledge with appreciation, some respond with silence as though the books don’t exist. Yet, they know the truth. I am a Liberal in political persuasion, I am an author and poet, I am a grandfather and father who places family first, I am a naturist-Jungian-Buddhist smorgasbord, and I am a honest and gentle man.