Amanda’s note: I am sick as a dog right now, so today I’m featuring a guest post that I hadn’t planned on. Thankfully, my friend Dan Verner (whose first book, On Wings of the Morning, I am currently engrossed in) sent me this. I did not give Dan a topic for this post, so I laughed when I saw it because I have been feeling old lately. I think it might have something to do with the fact that after three kids, things could use a little maintenance. I might be in my thirties, but I feel old. But feeling old isn’t the same as being old, and Dan has some thoughts on the matter…
Let’s face it: I am an old guy. There, I said it. And I have proof.
Proof #1: (and don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere near 50 proof here): I swore I would never wear a bolo tie. I associated those bits of string and rock with old guys from the Southwest who were trying real hard to look like Indians and not succeeding. As far as I was concerned, bolos belonged in the same pot as big Buicks, early bird specials and Haband slacks. Maybe it started when I bought my father-in-law’s Buick after he passed away. The thing was a boat, but he always had good luck with cars and this one was no exception to a long line of sensible choices. I used it to carry lumber and boxes and music stands and anything else a music director’s husband (me) is called on to schelp around. Once I was at Home Depot loading lumber into the back area of the car. Notice I didn’t write “back seat,” because I removed it to be able to carry more stuff. A contractor came out, laughed, and said, “I like your truck!” I grinning and answered, “So do I.” We eventually sold the car to a friend’s son. He totaled it the next week. Sic transit gloria mundi. Anyhow, back to the bolos. Out interim preacher Jim Ailor (not pastor—he shows up on Sundays to deliver amazing sermons and leaves the work of weekday ministry to the rest of us—it’s a great arrangement) preached a sermon series called “Manassas Baptist Church Goes Country.” I am not making that up. We sang songs like “You Are My Sunshine” and “Happy Trails to You” (as a benediction), and the sermons were based on country songs such as “I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack), “My List” (Toby Keith) and “My Wish” (Rascal Flatts). To emphasize the theme, we were encouraged to wear western clothing, which I had not done since I was six and a big fan of Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry and the like. So, Becky and I combed our closets for western wear, which was in short supply. I ended up going to a western store and buying a hat and—you guessed it—a bolo tie. And all the pigs in town flew off. Actually, I found that bolos are a sight more comfortable than neckties, and mine, with its turquoise whatever it’s called, drew a lot of attention. Several people said I looked smart in my jeans and denim shirt with my hat and bolo on. (Appearances can be deceiving.) I played my Martin in the services and the illusion of a country singer was more or less complete, with the exception of my somewhat trained voice. (If you’re a country music fan, and I am to some extent, don’t hate me. It’s simply a fact that most country singers don’t take voice lessons. The smart ones do, because their singing not only sounds better: they also have a longer career taking care of their voice. Judy Collins still takes voice lessons. Q.E.D. )
Proof #2: I drive like an old guy now. No, I don’t have a Buick, and I sold our big Impala my dad gave me because I can’t drive two cars at once. I have a 2004 Mazda 6 station wagon for hauling stuff, mostly church musician (of which I am one) equipment. It’s a great little car I bought from my daughter Alyssa when she moved up to a Lexus (she is a vice president and H R Lady for TML copiers and writes an hysterically funny blog called “The Shame Squad” which is about diet, fashion and Kate Middleton (not in that order—Kate is, seriously, Number One with her). You can read all about it here. Check it out. I think you’ll like it. Anyhow, the Mazda has a powerful engine and a sports suspension. I can get into trouble with it very fast (and fast is the operant word there—I got a speeding ticket about a year ago for doing 40 in a school zone—but the lights weren’t flashing. Honest. The judge didn’t believe that either.) I also rear ended a young woman on the Prince William Parkway after she stopped dead in the road. It wasn’t my fault. The judge must have talked to the first one, because when she heard my explanation, she smiled and hit me with court costs and a small fine. It could have been worse, I suppose. So, those couple of incidents got my attention and I started driving like an old person—you know, hitting the brake instead of the accelerator, leaving the turn signal on for miles, peering through the steering wheel and all the rest. I might look funny, and it takes me longer to get where I’m going, but I get there. In the same condition I left it. More or less.
Proof #3: This is probably the pièce de résistance of proofs that I am now an old guy. (Did you like those accents on “pièce de résistance”? I thought you would. I’ll tell you how to do it for a dollar. Cash only, bud. I wasn’t born yesterday…) And the proof is…I wear suspenders. Yep, that’s right, suspenders like your granddad wore. Hey, I’m about his age, so I have a right to wear them. I also have a reason, and it’s related to my health, and no, it’s not what you think. I was trying to be healthy this past year, so I joined a gym (full of old people and older equipment) and by virtue of diet, exercise, a positive mental attitude and certain pharmaceutical products (JK, as the kids say. If you don’t know what that means, ask a fifteen year old. Don’t ask me. I’m too old.), I lost 25 pounds. My fat pants don’t fit me any more and I can’t get into the thin man models. So, if I wear a belt, the weight of the junk I carry pulls my pants down around my ankles. And I’m not about to start a career as a rapper now. So, I wear suspenders. They’re fun, different and allow me to do a sharp Clarence Darrow imitation. All I need is a fan and it’s monkey trial time all over again! Growing old can be a pain in the AARP card, but it does have some advantages. I’ve written about a few, but I bet you could add to my list. When you’re old enough, that is.
Long-time Northern Virginia resident Dan Verner retired in 2003 from a 32-year career teaching English and creative writing to high school students, and writing, human relations and computer skills to adults. Since that time, he has scored essays for the College Board, contributed columns and articles to local papers, and managed Free Lance Writing, his writing, editing, and consulting business. Dan has authored over 1000 short essays and devotionals on a variety of subjects, and maintains three blogs. On Wings of the Morning resulted from a life-long interest in aviation and in World War II, particularly the air war in the European Theater of Operations.
When not writing or editing, Dan enjoys reading a wide range of subjects and genres. He listens to and sings music ranging from the blues to choral works to folk songs. He plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, electric bass and hand bells and teaches an adult Bible study class
.
Dan and his wife Becky live in an empty nest with their cats Nacho and Tuxedo. Amy and Alyssa, their two adult children, believe this book would have been improved by the inclusion of vampires and zombies.