Disneyland Closes At 35

The Last Thing I Believed In

We are led to believe that our lives have some importance, that we will live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved us best, in the remembrances of our friends, our families and all those who touched or were touched by our existence.

We are led to believe that some things, perhaps not a great number, are absolutely true and that others are absolutely false.

We are taught by family and religion that some things are wrong, at all times and in all places, and that other things are right, at all times and all places.

Many of the world's greatest thinkers call all these assertions into question. Friedrich Nietzsche holds that nothing could be more insignificant than the herd animal that is man. David Hume reports that humans are no more important in the great scheme of the universe than a single oyster alone in the vast expanse of the ocean.

As I get older I too question the significance of human existence. I have been assessing my beliefs and attempting to come to grips with the burgeoning doubts that creep into my mind in those last waking moments before sleep, or in my dreams, or in those first musings upon waking. I ask myself, what are the things in which I truly and confidently believe? It is much easier to list those things in which I do not believe.

I do not believe that my local, state or national government can solve the problems of high unemployment, rising medical, fuel and food prices, and myriad other social problems that exist. I do not believe that they will adequately provide for the least privledged members of our society such as the young, the elderly or the ill.  

I do not believe in the extremists on either end of the political spectrum. I, like many Americans, am weary of the harping, whining, complaining, back-biting, childish and self-serving behaviors that we see displayed in American politics everyday.

One thing that I still believe is that human beings should treat each other with respect. Human beings should help other human beings when they can. Most importantly, societies, and the governments that issue from them, should be FAIR.

I think all of us have a notion of what fairness means.

1. Not to take advantgage.

2. Not to be disrepectful.

3. To provide equal opportunity for all and equal protection under the law for all.

4. To disperse goods and services based on merit, but also to provide whatever is needed for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Most of us have an innate knowledge of these principles at our core. If we are not sociopaths we have a conscience. Most of us are not sociopaths.

If we all listened to our conscience we would not need government to become our conscience.

That's one of the last things I believe.

On Turning 65

I will experience my 65th birthday next week. I use the term experience rather than celebrate. I don't feel like celebrating.

I well remember my 40th birthday, the paper tombstones that my employees set all round my desk, and the over the hill posters of an old man with no teeth. I shrugged that all off. I didn't feel old. I didn't  look old.

In fact, at 40, I was at the top of my game. I had gone through the ranks of my profession quickly and was just on the cusp of being promoted to the second highest position in the organization. I went on a sailing trips with friends to celebrate and had a great time. We drank several gallons of scotch, caught more than our limit of fish, and engaged in numberless stories of one-upsmanship.

I felt no angst on the day of my 50th birthday. I had for some time been the number two person in my organization, I had two grown children and a much unexpected 4 year old to keep me young, and I still didn't feel old or look old.

My 4 year old is now nearing 21 and is a college student out of state. My high school class of 1964 is holding a 47 year reunion that includes the classes of 64/65 and 66 as a number of persons in each class have died. There were two new obituaries of persons who died this week.

What's to celebrate? Well, I have a long list. I have 3 great children, a loving and devoted wife, students that I mostly enjoy, good health, a mind that is still clear, a few good friends, two great cats, a nice home, and the list goes on.

I now feel a bit old, and I look old. If I could remove all the mirrors from my home I think I might feel like celebrating.