Sunday, August 3, 2008

Is 50 The New 40, and Does It Matter?

Today I turned 50. Since I tend to get up pretty early, even on the weekend, I took the Elite out for a birthday ride; went to my usual coffee place, and enjoyed the coolness of the morning. I thought about what I had accomplished this year, one being my (finally) getting my motorcycle endorsement and getting to enjoy life on two wheels. I waited a long time to get to this point - I really wasn't interested in scooters or motorcycles when I was younger, even though my Dad was an avid rider. But last year I was bitten by the two-wheeled bug, and I am glad I got my endorsement by the time I turned 50.

When I turned 40, it really didn't impact me emotionally, and I can say that turning 50 is not that much different, although I do sense more significance to this date in my life. On Friday, my office mates treated me with excellent baked goodies, and great cards and gifts, including a blow up walker with "old fart" warnings throughout. Today it was spent with me riding the Elite, and enjoying a great lunch at a Filipino restaurant in Seattle with my wife, our kids, my Mom, one of my brothers and my Aunt who is visiting from the Philippines. A good day!

I often joked to myself that upon turning 50 I would get a Corvette, wear a thick gold chain around my neck with my shirt opened up for all to see it, and pretend to be 30. Instead, I ride a scooter and am enjoying my 50th!

3 comments:

Kano said...

Happy Birthday Lance and here's to 50 years of scootering ahead of you! For me turning 40 bummed me out and by the time I reached 50 I was pretty much over it. Aging is more graceful on 2 wheels!

Joe said...

I turned 50 in March and I'm having the time of my life - on my scooter, of course. Now that you're out there on two wheels legally here's hoping that you'll post your riding adventures here regularly. Your style is a lot like my own so naturally I like it!

- Joe @ Scootin' da Valley

Doug C said...

Happy B'Day, Lance. And Kano's right. 2 Wheeled Grace... Sounds like a blog title!