Well, as of 22 minutes ago, my appreciation for a certain Beatles song has just plummeted. I can no longer sing along with the Beatles “When I’m sixty-four” because… well… as of 22 minutes ago, I am sixty-four.
I somehow never thought this would happen. Neither did the Beatles, and they already passed this milestone a few years ago. Whatever made them pick 64, I don’t know, but they should have known better. They should have known that when they hit 64, it wouldn’t feel like they thought 64 would be in their twenties. They would be a very young 64, still singing their own songs, still playing rock and roll. Age is never what it will be until we arrive at it.
Really. The guy in this song is a pathetic candidate for a nursing home – a grandparent who is wasting away, losing his hair, can’t even feed himself and needs precise language in order to understand anything. Come on now, I’m 64 and I feel none of these things, except for the losing hair part, but that’s no big deal. I’ve been doing that since I was 25.
There is one thing about being 64, however, that is different from the rest. It seems like my life has been compressed to where I feel closer to any part of it than I have ever been. My childhood is more accessible to me now than it was 30 years ago. It’s like my life has been squeezed together tightly from beginning to end so that just the significant moments stand out. All the more reason to make more of those moments – to live life significantly. Make every day a stand out day. God is over it all; he gives it all meaning.
We need a revision. When I’m eighty-four? That’s better. When I’m ninety-four? Now that’s old.
John Fischer The Catch 
John, great piece, because it speaks of our ideas on age. I wonder how God remarks on our pandering to the age question. On my last birthday near Thanksgiving I cooked for the entire extended family and was asked the question HOW OLD ARE YOU? I responded with that song. In the face of all eternity I guess our age does not matter but it sure matters when trying to keep up with all I once did. You’re right about it seeming compressed. You speak the truth here brother. Just keep the faith we are always a child in the sight of God.
John, when I turned sixty-five (I’m now 66), I started quipping that now I’m an “old geezer” and I demand all the rights and privileges associated with attaining that milestone. When I made that comment to one of my wonderful volunteers with whom I work in The Salvation Army (who is in his late 80s), he kinda’ brought me up short with this rejoinder: “You don’t know all there is to it.” Slowly, slowly I’m discovering that he’s absolutely correct!
First up…. Happy Birthday John !! : ) I have personally struggled with getting old since i was a junior in highschool. So much so that I am now even lamenting about the fact that I am going to have to type my age, since the preceedind statement would mean little without a basis. I am 53. I once heard a comedian say he had no trouble…. being dead…. he was worried about …. getting dead !! Well said. Although meant as a joke, I feel exactly the same way. I really look forward to Heaven where no one will ever get old again !! : ) Thanks for all you do John. Have an awesome day.
Dear Bare — I love the joke! It’s the getting dead part that I worry about. You helped me laugh aloud while remembering that God will be with me then, as He is right now — and in Heaven, age will not even exist like it does here, as you said. Thanks for your wit — laughter is one of the Lord’s best gifts, isn’t it?
Happy birthday!!!! I had to laugh. We are doing a new church directory and my mom (who is 84) had her photo taken yesterday. I asked her how it went and she said “Terrible! I can’t believe how OLD I look!!!” She went on and on! We lost my 96-yr old dad in March. And yes, he was definitely showing his age. But neither of them really showed their age until his Alzheimers got worse. You are absolutely right about needing to live today for today’s sake. We have no clue how long we’ll have and how healthy we’ll be. But God has given us today! Have a really happy one!
Happy birthday John. I’ve turned 64 today also and have just spent the evening celebrating with 10 of my 14 grandchildren, their parents and my husband. I felt very blessed and for me one of the delights of being this age is the joy my grandchildren bring. God has blessed my life in so many ways and I have no regrets in turning 64. Hope your day is wonderful.
Aaah. 64, I remember that. Happy Birthday John.
Happy Birthday brother John and as the wise saying goes: remember you’re getting better, not jus older. And I don’t think 94 is old, nor is 104 simply becauz i throughly believe, trust and know, if God wills it – you get what you say, so therefore applying that logic, 94 isn’t old, not is 104.
I used to work for Meals-on-Wheels delivering food to homebound ‘elderly’ folks. And that’s one of the oft-repeated sentiments I kept hearing from these precious souls: “The calendar may say I’m old and my body doesn’t behave like it once did but my brain is not convinced that I’m as old as they say I should be.”
Many of them were frustrated with having a worn-out body and a ’29-year old’ brain. But, yet, many were able to accept where they were at and had an optimistic outlook for their remaining future. God bless those folks….
Happy Birthday!
Best wishes for a happy and blessed birthday, John.
I’m still a “bit” behind you in age, but I would not want to go back to the 20-something years, that’s for sure! I stand “richly blessed” and love 50-something much better.
Perhaps you could write a song entitled, “When I Was 24”? 🙂
Heading off to iTunes to listen to the song now…
Best regards,
Tom
Happy Birthday!! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Something we ALL need to remember. Hope it’s a great one!
Happy Birthday, John. Happy Birthday to you with many, many, and many more filled with God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love. I loved this article because I remember when I was a child and looking up to the older people in church and watched them do stuff that I wanted to do. I, too, an approaching 64 for I turn 59 on August 2nd. I enjoy your writings each day. It is not that you are another year older, but you have another year of enjoying God’s Grace and sharing His Love with others. Do I hear an AMEN?
Happy Birthday John! I’m looking forward to many more years of The Catch! Maybe 64? 🙂
Happy Birthday, John. You are a great inspiration.
My very best to you on this special day – May God bless you richly today and always. Happy Birthday.
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday DEAR Johhhn, Happy BIRTHDAY to YOUUUUUU!!! I hope your “special day” brings you everything you are wishing for!
Happy Bday, John! I just turned 60 two weeks ago. The next day I fell on the stairs, bruised my spine, and have been sleeping in a chair at nights since. But, despite the painful sciatic reminders of age, I went to Boston for my son’s graduation the next day, came back and did another five nights of high school graduation activities for my youngest, and put in extra hours to finish a book. From the sounds of your life, you’re the same way–we just don’t have time to get old!
When David Wilkerson died recently, I gained unexpected courage from learning that he was still going strong at three weeks shy of 90. It just reminded me that however many years I have left, I don’t want it said that I just got older with age, but rather that I grew bolder. I’ll never retire; I’ll just expire. When God graduates me into his presence, I want to have lived every day flat out to the end. Pressing on!
Happy birthday sir!
God bless.
Happy Birthday John! May your day be filled with lots of love, joy and laughter! Have Fun and remember you are a spring chicken, so flap those wings and dance!
Don’t you know, 84 is the new 64, so you can still sing it! 🙂 Happy Birthday!
That seems about right!
Loved this!
Oh, by the way—-HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU SPECIAL ON YOUR BIRTHDAY——AND EVERY OTHER DAY.
Dear John — A blessed and laughter-filled birthday to you, one of my favorite writers ever. Indeed, “old” is much older now than it was when we were kids (I’m 57.). One of my best friends is my Uncle Bill, who just turned 85. His body is slower than it once was, and he’s got a replaced shoulder and replaced hip. Otherwise, his faith is more powerful, he’s as busy as ever, and his mind is still a brilliant one. I’m amazed at how young 85 can be. Relish your day, and be surrounded by reminders of how infinite and tender and joyful God’s love is for you. We your readers are grateful for you, this day and every day.
Age is just a number. My mom is 91. She recently broke her leg and has to stay in a senior home until she is recuperated. She refuses to associate with the “old people” in the home. She does not consider herself old. I am 58 and feeling every year. 🙂
And I forgot to say Happy Birthday! May God shower you with blessings in the coming years.
Happy Birthday, John!…Hope it was wonderful and thank you for letting God use you in all the ways he does. Blessings!
My friend writes in her blog about the “wild ox anointing ” God gives us in our old age. I haven’t studied it all out but my first thoughts are that a wild ox is strong. So we can be strong in our old age. I’m kind of looking forward to it. I really need to study it out more. Anyway, May God bless you with the wild ox anointing and a joyous year.
My day job is in media relations, and just the other day I sent out a news release for a program directed at seniors. It’s being held at a “55+” center. I turned 55 two weeks and a day ago. Kind of an eye-opener, but I recall the story of Col. Sanders, who was inspired to launch KFC when he got his first Social Security check and figured that Uncle Sam might have “given up” on him, but he hadn’t.
But I’m reminded of a song parody the British magazine PUNCH did in 1970 when the Beatles broke up: “When we get older, losing our hair/A week or so from now/Will you still be listening to our LPs/Or wondering ‘why did we buy these?’/Will Alan Rogers, will Jimmy Young/Play us anymore?/Or will you just say, ‘Them? They had their day/Back in ’64!’?”
Happy birthday, John! Keep the music going!
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I think they chose 64 because there are 64 beats in a verse. If you watch the video it counts them up to 64. (square number) Happy Birthday though! x