Old Age

My father turned 80 last week. I am incredibly happy and grateful that he reached this milestone even if I almost can't remember him physically fit and healthy and it's bitter-sweet to see him struggle to get through each day. To live to 80 is still rather impressive (if I was mean, I'd add for men in particular...) but it doesn't have the same WOW-factor it had when I was a child and my maternal great-grandfather's 80th birthday was a big deal. Eighty seemed positively ancient, even more so for a child of kindergarten-age, but just like 40 is the new 30 and 60 the new 50, etc., 90 these days is probably the new 80. Fine with me.