I had a moment in court a while ago that reminded me of an episode of “Happy Days”, when the seemingly perfect and invincible Fonzie was forced to apologize for being wrong. It was the perfect teaching moment, and I had the perfect illustration.
But I quickly reconsidered. The parents in the case before me were both in their 20s, which meant they were not even born when — four DECADES ago — “Happy Days” was on television. I could imagine them asking me, “What is a Fonzie?” Then: “Judge, was Abraham Lincoln the president when you were in high school?”
I was again reminded to remember my age, something that happens to me all the time nowadays — with music, taste in movies, fascination with sports legends, and TV shows. I’ve come to realize I’m no longer the young, cool, totally hip (and, evidently, extremely humble) dude I used to be.
Long gone is the bright red hair that flowed down over my ears. In the distant past are the nights at The Dixie Electric Company when I stayed out until 4 a.m., yet still was in Chemistry class by 8:30. What's more, while I used to eat a Big Mac and never gain weight, now I simply drive past a McDonald’s and gain a few pounds.
I’m approaching what comics call The Metallic Age, with silver in my hair, gold in my teeth, iron in my diet, and lead in my butt. The question I have to ask myself is how do I feel about that.
It is now the year 2020, which always sounded like a space age time warp to me. But here we are.
Time marches on.
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I HEARD THE SONG “More Than A Feeling” by Boston on the radio last Friday morning. Like music does so often, I was immediately transformed back to when I first heard the song in 1976. And for a second I had this thought I was driving to class or to practice. It was that powerful, like the moment was real. In more ways than one, it was more than a feeling. (get it?)
Then I stumbled onto some old NFL clips on YouTube just before bed (at 9:30) the other night. One clip was of the 1969 NFL championship game between the Browns and the Vikings. Another was the 1974 AFC championship game between the Steelers and the Raiders, with Curt Gowdy and Al DiRogatis calling the action. Then I watched some of the 1978 Super Bowl, listening to Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshire. I love this stuff. But how did all it happen so long ago?.
Then, just last Saturday afternoon when it was 67 degrees, I played 9 at the Franklin G.C., where I learned to play golf 45 years ago. I have a million memories there, from high school matches to city tournaments to just hanging out with friends in a friendly game. At the par-3 eighth, I remembered I at age 14 I hit a 4-wood into that green. As I got older, it was an 8-iron. But in a few years, the day is coming when I’ll need the 4-wood again.
What can I do? This is the year I will turn 60.
Time flies. I can’t stop it.
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SATCHEL PAIGE WAS A famous baseball player more than 70 years ago. He once asked a pretty profound question, “How old would you be if you didn’t know what age you are?”
Maybe we should measure age by the way we act. Maybe then we wouldn’t get so wigged out by dates on the calendar.
So I look at it this way.
Even if my step is a little slower, it feels great to crank up a good song by Foreigner or Journey or Bruce Springsteen when I'm in the car. At least I feel like I’m 20 again. It’s all right to think the 1976 Cincinnati Reds are the greatest to have ever played baseball -- bar none. And it’s just fine if a situation makes me think of Richie, Ralph, Potsie and the Fonz.
We are who we are.
Time marches on.
These are all “Happy Days.”
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| Chachi, Potsie, Richie, Fonzie, and Ralph "Happy Days" |