For my 68^th birthday, the missus and I flew to Los Cabo Mexico, home of the Arch of Cabo San Luca that separates the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean and Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo. We stayed with good friends, nine of us, with six of us being graduates of Clifton Central High School. 

Walking on Sunshine – Cabo is a special place and if you’ve never been there you might want to put it on your bucket list. The weather is always perfect – not too hot, lots of sun, and delightful cool evenings. Need your passport though.  

Tin Cup Chalice – We played a couple rounds of golf at the Quivira Golf Course, located RIGHT on the Sea of Cortez. Well, honestly our host played golf. There was little correlation between the game of golf and what us three other hackers were playing. Several nice golf balls were donated to the Sea.

Thank You for Being My Friend – Many of the world’s problems were solved as we lounged daily in the infinity pool. Adult beverages ran freely. We talked endlessly about grandkids or reminisced of the great times we’ve had together. Watching the whales while sailing on a dinner boat was an exquisite experience. Shopping the eclectic stores in town was an adventure as merchants beckoned us with every trinket or illegal activity one could imagine. I picked up a cool white straw hat for a rakish look.

I Just Want to Celebrate – I’ve known the friends in this group for over 35 years, one for over 60 years. Our kids went to school and played sports together. There are lots of memories with this bunch and we made a few more this year in Cabo. Our hosts went over-and-beyond with delightful festivities in celebration of my birthday, which seemingly went on for three days!

I Done Got Old – Every year at this time I wax nostalgic about my birthday… I’m having a hard time accepting being 68 years old and hurtling towards 70.  For my 68^th birthday, the missus and I flew to Los Cabos Mexico, home of Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo. We stayed with good friends, nine of us, mostly moderately successful products of Clifton Central High School. 

I Dig Rock and Roll Music – My head is still wandering around in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I still listen to classic rock – as I am right now writing this tale. I’m a walking encyclopedia for classic rock, a talent that when combined with six bucks will buy me a Grande Latte at Starbucks. I still attend concerts like the Eagles (mentioned last week) or the Dead & Co I will see later this month. My thoughts are not that much different as when I was a much younger person. (I didn’t say I could actually accomplish any of those actions, but it doesn’t keep me from thinking about them.)

Life’s Been Good  – I’ve lived long enough to see man walk on the moon, the Chicago Cubs actually win a World Series, witnessed a Chicago Bulls dynasty with the greatest basketball player ever to wear a jock, and of course a couple more Green Bay Packer super bowl victories. On two different occasions I’ve managed to get a hole-in-one on the golf course, a shot that is 10% well struck and 90% luck. (Even won a car with my first hole-in-one!)

Shine On You Crazy Diamond – I’ve been in 46 of the 50 states, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and 8 European countries, but I’ve Never Been to Spain. (Even played bad golf in a lot of them) I’ve been to Hollywood, I’ve been to Redwood… – I’ve been a truck driver, presided over a trucking company, and then written novels about it. My sister, father, and all four grandparents have passed away in my lifetime, as has my best friend and at least twenty classmates.  

Always On My Mind – My beautiful wife and I will be celebrating our 45^th anniversary this year – seems like just yesterday she was a teenager. We have a daughter that will be 43 years old this year. The memories of  when I was 43 years old and struggling to make a living are still poignant in my mind. We produced four wonderful children and they have blessed us with eleven grandkids with a twelfth on the way.

Hello Old Friend  – Finally, I’ve been out of high school for 50 years for crying out loud. And here’s the mystery of the ages – why do my classmates look so much older than me?