THOUGHTS ON TURNING 68

On the occasion of turning sixty-eight, I thought I'd make a few statements and observations.

It feels strange that I've now lived longer than my mother did.  She died two months before attaining this age.

In my whole life, I never once looked forward to turning sixty-eight.  It happened with no fanfare, no cake, no special dinner, no family gathering, no candles, no singing...birthdays change as you get older!  Debbie did present me with a really special card, two new flannel shirts and a bag of chocolates!  My family all sent birthday texts to celebrate the event.  I got a birthday card from my 403b plan;  also one from Debbie's Aunt Bonnie Lou!  My Facebook friends inundated me with greetings!  It took me over two hours to respond to them all...

Thus far, I've faced no age that has presented itself as a crisis age.  I look forward to turning seventy because I'm committed to eating a whole package of Klondike bars that day!  When I turn seventy-five, I plan to eat a whole dozen DeAngelis cream-filled donuts (if they're still open).  

I have distinct liabilities:

• My hearing grows increasingly bad!  It hinders my desire to be with people and even to attend church.
• I no longer sleep well through the night.  An uninterrupted  four-hour-sleep is a welcome thing!
• I've heard my father and siblings speak of arthritis problems for years.  I'm now beginning to experience this unwelcome guest in my shoulders at night - another sleep interruptor.
• Throughout my younger years I loved staying up late at night and getting up early in the morning.  I've finally given up the late-at-night thing.  First, I gave up on late-night comedians.  Next I gave up on 10:00 PM shows - I missed too many endings.  Now, I find myself struggling to make it till 10:00 PM.  9:30 PM seems to be my new bedtime!
• I still get up at 5:30 AM.  Often it's to drive for Lyft, but it's also because I can't take the pain of staying in bed any longer.  Sleeping in is a luxury I no longer enjoy.
• I recently embarked on a renewed effort to lift weights, exercise and walk.  I had to reduce my effort due to lower back pain.

I also have significant blessings:

• I serve a risen Savior and live with the hope of Heaven!
• I have a faithful wife!
• My family loves me!
• I have two incredible grandchildren!
• We own our home.
• The Social Security Administration makes monthly deposits to my bank account!
• The Free Methodist Pension Department does the same!
• For the most part, I enjoy driving for Lyft at least several days a week which further advances my bank account.
• Thanks to Troy (and help from friends and family) we have a wonderful two-car garage!
• We own three vehicles:  2003, 2005, and 2008.
• In addition, we own a cabin at the Tri-State Campground (thanks in part to Travis) and a 2001 fifth-wheel-camper.
• My wonderful, soft bed is pre-warmed all winter by a mattress heater.
• We have a freezer full of food and a well-stocked pantry!
• Our dog seems to really like me.
• The neighbors appear to think I'm okay.
• We go on vacations at least several weeks every year.
• I have friends from MANY different countries!

Did you notice that my blessings outnumber my liabilities?  They really do - by far!  I'm a fortunate and blessed man!  My life isn't as active and engaged as it was even four years ago, but I still have more to be thankful for than I'm capable of reviewing in a brief blog article.  Thanks be to God - let's see what this next year holds.

Will I hit the Appalachian Trail again?

Will we find an opportunity to serve in another country?

Will I finish any of the three books I've started?

Will I volunteer for Samaritan's Purse?

Will we make our much-awaited trip out west?

Stay tuned for the answers...

BIRTH STORY - I

We were living in an eight-foot wide, forty-foot long mobil home in Wilmore, Kentucky.  We had purchased it for $1,800 - new home owners!  Very proud!

Deb was pregnant and expecting to deliver in April.  She'd had some trouble with the pregnancy during the fall.  Dr. Dunkleberger ordered bed-rest for over two weeks to save the baby!

Now it was February, 1976, the Bicentenniel Year!

She was making me breakfast:  sausage, eggs and toast.  The smell of the sausage made her nautious.  She began complaining of stomach pains.  As I sat at our tiny kitchen table eating, I noticed that she was complaining exactly every-five-minutes.

When I pointed that out, she called her doctor.  He suggested we come in for an exam.  After breakfast, we left for Lexington.  She disappeared into an examination room.

Fifteen minutes later, the doctor came out and sat beside me.  He told me that Deb would soon be coming out and that I should drive her to the hospital as quickly as possible.  He would meet us there - she was dilated six centimeters!

Upon arriving at the hospital, she went for xrays.  As they wheeled her down the hallway toward surgery, the doctor explained that the baby was breach-backwards and they would have to do the delivery as a Ceasarian Section.

We hadn't read that chapter in our 'Birth Book'!

The baby boy was born seven weeks premature, weighing five pounds, two ounces.  He quickly lost weight and had to be kept in the hospital for two weeks until he weighed five pounds again.

We named him Travis Wilson Haire [Wilson was my father's middle name].  That was February 24, 1976, thirty-six years ago today!  He's been bringing us joy for all those years!

SURPRISE!

It was January 27, 1962.

My Mom asked what I wanted for dinner that night - since it was my 10th birthday.  I believe I asked for hamburgers and french fries.

When my Dad got home from work, he wanted to go to Sahle's Chevrolet in Beaver Falls to look at cars.  He invited me to go along.  It was a rare treat to get to do something alone with my Dad, so I jumped at the chance.  Besides, it was very exciting to think that we might be getting a new car!

Upon arriving home, Dad asked me to put the garage door up - so he could put the car away.  When I lifted the door, the lights came on and about fifteen of my school-friends screamed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"  It was the only birthday party I had - until last night.

I had come home early and snuggled in for a full evening of reading and relaxing.  Deb had been up and out early;  I hadn't seen her all day.  She said that there was something going on early at school.  Then, after tutoring, she and Laurie had some things to do for Troy's wedding.  She told me that Laurie's Connection Group was having a little dinner for Dennis and Lori Massey's anniversary - and that I should come over around 6:15 PM to get something to eat.

A little after six, I headed over to the fellowship hall.  It occurred to me that this must be a bigger event than I thought, because there were a lot of cars in the parking lot.  As I walked into the sanctuary, the Worship Team was there for practice.  Something seemed different in the way they all looked at me.  They all looked like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary!

Then, I headed for the fellowship hall.  I thought it was strange that there was a 'Happy Birthday' sign on the wall.  I think I surprised everyone by being a few minutes early.  Everyone stopped talking and just looked at me.  Then, as though on a signal, they all hollered "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!' 

Deb had prepared a meal.  We all ate and visited.  I opened gifts and lots of cards and received the greetings of so many friends! 

Maybe it's turning 60?  Maybe it's something else?  But I can't seem to get my mind off Heaven this morning. 

John 5:24 (the VOICE)
[Jesus speaking] I tell you the truth:  eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me.  These people have no reson to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life.

Someday, we'll walk through a door and fall into the arms of Jesus!  We'll be held by the One who paid the price for our salvation.  As He holds us and whispers His love, we'll see a line of people waiting to welcome us:  family, friends, teachers, pastors, and saints!  And at that moment we will have just begun to experience what the Bible describes as "the joy of the Lord".  That joy and peace will go on as we continue to serve Him for an endless eternity...

Happy Day!

It was a happy day!  We already had two boys and - truth be told - we were hoping for a girl!  We lived in McClellandtown, PA.  Our hospital was in Morgantown, WV.   The trip was on a narrow, winding road that took you north, south, east and west before it dropped you in the parking lot of the University of West Virginia Hospital. 

It was a high-risk delivery since Debbie's first birth had been by Caesarean Section.  But everything went well, and she weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces!  About the only hair she had was her name.  For the first year, Debbie taped pink ribbons to her head.  (Hard to believe when you see her today!)

We struggled over her name.  I held out for Hannah.  Deb liked Tracie Elizabeth.  I suggested Tracibeth.  When they came around for our final decision, I wasn't there - so Deb named her Tracie Elizabeth Haire.  I still call her Tracibeth! 

We were so proud of her that day!  We still are today - 30 years later!