Strange Years

Raoul’s Two Cents: January 9, 2026

Old Age

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Another year … another grey hair. Another month … another wrinkle. Another workday … another body ache. I decided to write a checklist of what I think about getting old.

You know you’re old if:

• Social Security is your friend.
• Tinnitus follows you wherever you go.
• Your back squeaks.
• Every word you want to say is at the tip of your tongue.
• You are aghast at a group picture of oldies until you realize they were your classmates.
• You wear reading glasses.
• You constantly clean your counter top because of all the dead skin cells that’s floating around.
• You have a weekly pill box.
• It takes forever to select your movie for the night because you can’t remember if you’ve watched it already.
• The gym is not your friend.
• Age spots and bald spots pop up everywhere.
• Your gums are receding while your teeth stop whitening.
• You shop at Aldi’s and you love to bargain hunt.
• You are lactose intolerant and you’re shopping for adult diapers.
• You visit your doctor more often than your children.
• You pick your grandkids after school. And this is the highlight of your day.
• You don’t recognize any music in the top 40s.
• You go to a lot of funerals.
• You stayed home and had a quiet New Year.
• You’re reading this email.

Feeling old? I feel your pain — literally!

I’m older than my Dad when I thought he was old. I’m older than George Washington when he became President at 57. George Burns … well, at least he was way older when he died at 100. Of course there’s Mick Jagger and Keith Richards — they’ll never die!

But really, who’s counting? I stopped counting birthdays when I started counting blood pressure. Getting old is just a new skin I’ve slowly adjusted to. And it ain’t bad at all.

Just because I’m old, people think I have wisdom. I get senior discounts without asking for them. I stopped eating like a horse. My wardrobe hasn’t changed for decades. My wife and I date often because our idea of date night is having dinner watching a good movie on TV.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live forever. And I certainly don’t want to be a burden to anyone. But I’ll hang around this body as long as God wants me to be here. And while I still can, I’ll maximize the time He has given me. How about you?

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old. You grow old when you stop laughing.” — George Bernard Shaw

“You can live to be a hundred if you give up all things that make you want to live to be a hundred.” — Woody Allen

“I’m very pleased to be here. Let’s face it, at my age I’m very pleased to be anywhere.” — George Burns

“I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.” — Bob Hope

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” — Robert Frost

“Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.” — Walt Disney

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” — Proverbs 16:31

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” — Isaiah 46:4

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, California

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Colleen of Washington State

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
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