Shocking!

[MuseRider]

I just looked at the date and realized my father, had he lived, would have been 100 years old today. He died at 52. Having outlived both of my parents, my mother died at 65, I rarely think of it but that took me for a little loop there.

Odd how this happens to a person. I am now older than any close relative I ever had except my maternal grandmother who lived to be 91. Long life is not a part of my genetic history so I am pleased to still be here in relative good health! What a shock to think of this today.

[soothsayer]

1. Hopefully you take after your grandmother.

Sorry for all your losses so early.

[MuseRider]

2. Thanks

they were long ago. I have one of my brothers left but I think he is only here because he has pickled himself in alcohol and made himself relatively harmless with other drugs. He will likely outlive us all, if he doesn't starve.

100 years old really hit me.

[soothsayer]

3. That's quite a mark, indeed

[Moostache]

4. May your ride on our moist pebble continue for many returns!

I recently hit 50 after losing my mom to COVID and cancer. She made it to 75, outliving her mother by 30 years before she could no longer win the fights she had been for decades.

I am blessed to still have my dad with me, we has outlived his own father by more than 30 years at 78.

The bizarre thing was my paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather both lived into their 90's and grandma made it to 96.

Numbers and longevity hit me like a ton of bricks this year...especially since my own health challenges have me hugging the actuarial tables closer to my shorter lived ancestors than the nonagenarians in my DNAs branches.

I need to remind myself constantly that the most important thing we have every day is time. Health is quite obviously a super close second, especially to enjoy or use that time to its fullest possibilities...but time is the one thing no one can own, we all have, but none (save the suicidal we act on their pathology) know how much.

It is a great day because you're here and able to share your story, which reminded me to again be thankful for he fact that I am here today and able to do things to make the world a tiny fraction better for it. You cleared that bar in a big way for me today with your story, so thank you!

And I do wish you many more circuits around the sun to come!

[rurallib]

5. Like you I have long outlived my parents

Mother was dead at 57, my father @ 5years later. Alcohol and cigarettes by the bushel did them in.

Both were orphans, so their parents must have died young. Guess I was never really told what happened.

So I have a brother who hits 77 today and looks to be pretty healthy. I only have 2 older brothers and they are still kicking. Like you, I am glad to sell be kicking.

I do know one thing - a case of beer and 4 packs of Pall Mall a day is pretty lethal.

[marble falls]

6. Hard to believe there were still Civil War veterans when I was born. WWII vets are almost gone.

My wife's WWII vet dad would be 101 this year.

Time is magical stuff.

[Solly Mack]

7. Wow. I realized yesterday that my mother would be 92 now were she still alive.

Just a number that hit me hard while reading about something else. Must be in the air, so to speak. We buried my mom in April of 92. I still find myself wanting to tell her things.

I'm glad you're here too!