Today I am 63

Seventy years ago my parents had not yet met each other.

Sixty years ago we lived in Willard or Plymouth, Ohio. I can’t remember which! And I had an older brother. Harry Truman was President of the 48 states.

Fifty years ago I was in Junior High School, played the sousaphone in Stow, Ohio.

My how life can change in ten years.

Forty years ago I was a graduate student in theatre at Ohio State, dating the woman I was sure was going to be my wife.

Thirty years ago, Nancye, who really was my wife and still is, was pregnant with Alice and I was teaching theatre in Portland, Oregon.

Twenty years ago December 7 I was ordained a priest in God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, served St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Morehead, Kentucky and we had added a son, Trevor.

Ten years ago we had has just moved to Delaware, Ohio and St. Peter’s Church. Alice was in college and Trevor in high school.

Now I am 63 and thinking about retirement after the Church of the Good Samaritan grows. Trevor is a carpenter and Alice is a priest. Nancye is still the love of my life.

Ten years from now I will be walking two miles a day, eating well and loving my wife, children and grandchildren.

Twenty years from now I may be dead. There are so many books to read, so many places to visit, so many people to love before then.