On the big Six-Zero, I fail to go surfing in Yakutak; I do ride my bike in Wasilla, adorned by my first birthday present
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 12:47PM ;)
Awhile back - YEARS back - I gave myself a goal for my 60th birthday. A few months back, I restated that goal here on this blog.
I would go surfing in Yakutak.
I utterly failed to meet that goal.
But today, my birthday, I did ride my bike - as you can see above. You have never seen fenders on my bike before. Caleb gave me those and put them on himself. These fenders, which will prevent the rain from being zipped up across my shirt and into my face, are the first present that I have received today - although yesterday, I stopped at Metro Cafe and found that Funny Face, a reader from Texas, had given me a $20 dollar punch card there.
Thank you Caleb and Funny Face.
Later this afternoon, I will drive into Anchorage, where a barbecue will be held in my honor at the home of Jacob, Lavina, Kalib and Jobe. Doubtless, I will receive more presents.
I have not been surfing since I was 20 years old. The last time that I went was in Santa Cruz, California, just before the Mormon Church sent me on a two year mission to the Lakota/Dakota in South Dakota and Montana. I don't really remember much about any of the waves I rode that day, because they were so-so and not that great, but I do remember the voluptuous woman in the tiny blue bikini who walked along the edge of the water with the little gold chain slung atop her hips. She made me wonder why I ever had to be born and raised Mormon at all, why I ever agreed to even go on a mission.
Surfing is a sport that I have always wanted to get back into and I thought that 60 would be just the right age to do so.
I am not going to give up on this goal. I now state my intention to go surfing sometime this winter - in Alaska's sister state, the great state of Hawaii. I will go down there and, fake shoulder and all, I will paddle into the surf and I will shred those waves apart - even if for only one second before the frothing break hammers me under.
This is my goal. For many years, it has been my goal to get to Hawaii and I have never made it. So I reset the goal, for this winter, with new determination.
And then, next summer, on my 61st birthday, having had a little practice, I give myself the new goal to go surfing in Yakutak, where I have friends.
I have been young now for 60 years.
There is no appetite, desire, hope or ambition that I carried at the age of 20 that I do not carry now.
I do not intend to quit being young anytime soon, no matter what the damn calendar says, no matter how white my beard has grown, my hair now starting to follow.
I am a young man and I intend to stay that way.
But why do I feel so damn tired? Right now, as I type these words.
Right now and every waking moment - every sleeping moment.
Every moment.
Why, come mornings, do I find that I just want to sleep longer, yet am unable to sleep?
Could it be that I cannot beat the calendar, that it is going to take me down yet, just as it takes down everyone else?
Nah! Can't happen!
Reader Comments (26)
I hope you have a wonderful day. Your words are always encouraging. I will be turning 50 next month, and am trying to stay positive, thinking about how the song goes on Life of Brian: "Always look on the light side of life... ".
Happy Birthday Bill! And many more!
Bill,
Mike and I wish you a very Happy Birthday!
Take good care......
Stay young, Bill! And happy birthday!
Happy, happy birthday, Bill!
hope that you have/had a wonderful birthday!! ... and many more!!!
Well, we share the same age for a few more months. Congrats! My relatives seemed old at 60. It is most interesting what happened in only one generation. I, too, think of myself as young --- well, until I look in the mirror and wonder who is looking back at me. (grin)
Enjoy the rest of your birthday in the fine company of your family.
The happiest of birthdays to you! I hope you have a great celebration. Thank you for sharing so many moments of your life.
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite bloggers...enjoy the day !!
Happy Birthday, Bill! My birthday is Friday--just 4 years behind you :)
Thank you for sharing your life, your beautiful family, and your amazing photos with all of us.
I love your attitude. I will be 65 in the spring and I still have loads of things I plan to do. It is not a good idea to ever get to the point where there are no goals left. I am with you- I do not plan to quit being young anytime soon... and that is still possible even when our bones ache and it is hard to get out of bed in the morning. Happy Birthday.
Young at heart-Happy Birthday Bill..♥
Happy birthday, Bill. I hope that you are able to find someone who will pay you to go surfing soon. I also hope that after your first surf you will just chill on the beach with your lovely wife & a chilled coffee beverage. No need to drown to prove your youth.
Happy Birthday Bill! Body surfing is also great fun, easier on the bod & less chance of getting hurt. I'll look forward to your Hawaii visit. You do know that Maui is No Ka Oi (the best) don't you? :)
Have a great celebration! We're all so glad you're here sharing your life & adventures.
Mahalo!
Kat
Happy birthday Bill.
Thank you for blogging!
Congratulations and Happy Birthday on your 60th.
Thank you so much for all you share.
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday Bill! Just look around you at your beautiful family and your exciting career and, well, surfing in Yakutat seems to pale in comparison :-)
Happy Birthday Bill!
adjusting some of our "I'm gonna..."s is not a bad thing-
I'm finding some of my plans didn't allow enough for other necessities (like watching beautiful grand kids grow before my eyes, sitting still enough I can feel my kitty purr, stopping to watch the dirty white specks I know are mountain goats move along the ridge )and timelines have to be adjusted... like you are doing.
It's a good thing
:-)
Happy Birthday Bill! Hope you had a wonderful time with your family!
Happy Birthday Bill :)
Happy Birthday from Fairbanks Mr Hess!
Happy Belated Birthday Bill, keep on blogging, we look forward to exciting news and pictures every day. I'm still going bungee jumping, I'm over 60, and not scared of heights. :) At this point, maybe just watching would be fun.
Happy belated birthday, Bill! I'm new to your blog and so happy to have discovered it! I hope you had a wonderful day, and I look forward to reading about many more of your youthful adventures.
Happy birthday, Bill. I loved the line 'There is no appetite, desire, hope or ambition that I carried at the age of 20 that I do not carry now.' It's the truth, isn't it? The simple truth of it...that we change on the outside, maybe, but on the inside, we are what we have always been.
Thank you, everybody, for all the good wishes. It was a great day - and don't anybody worry. I want to go surfing but I do not want to kill myself - which is an easy enough thing to do just getting into the car.