The last year has had a small undercurrent of nerves, as it has never been far from mind that my paternal grandfather dropped dead at 67.  Silly, I know, what are you gonna do?   It was there.


As of this morning, I am officially older than he ever was.


Peter

Happy B-day Coz!   We are now the same age and will be so for the next eight days!

Bill, tgo (who had similar feelings until I passed Jerry's 53)

Yeah, 54 was big for me, too - as was, of course, 28.

For that matter, 20 was kind of huge, since (as we have discussed) I died 4 times on your 20th b-day.......

Peter

Congrats!

Congratulations!

No male in my family has lived past 69 (my father and paternal grandfather both died at 69 of the same cancer). Looking back through the family tree, making it to 57 or so, if you're a guy, is about the average outlook.


I'm almost 58 now so I'm in the home stretch. I'd better start winding things up soon so I don't leave everyone with a mess!

I turned 64 last month and I've really had a Hard Think about how I want to spend the rest of my life. So far, good health from genes not so resilient. Pa's side....most died in their 50's Pa almost made it to 80....cancers & heart attacks. Most of my cousins are dead....mid 60's.

Talking to a friend (known her since 15yo) who was widowed two years ago about getting together. She was only married to the guy 11 months and he dropped dead fly fishing. You just never know..... I've never been married but at 64, I'm seriously considering it.

Happy Birthday, Coz, and sorry for the belated-ness.


Many Happy Returns!

Happy Birthday. I felt strange when I looked at how old John Entwistle was when he died. Enjoy the day.

Thanks, all.
The genes are mixed.  Yeah, Grandpa only made 67, but my dad is 92.
Of course, only one other Gerlach has lived that long; made it to 97 - but Dad says he doesn't count, because the last 5 years all he did was lie in bed & drink a quart of rye whiskey every day.....

On Mom's side, pretty much no one dies younger than 85*, though; average it out and i see a good chance of 90.  Though, how I feel now, i'm not at all sure that's a good thing, ya heard?

*I discount her cousin - closer to my age - who wrecked his CB750 on the way home from a party about 19 or 20.

Peter

Happiest Birthday Wishes !

My grandfather lived to be almost 100. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that he never thought he was going to pass away. Diet, exercise, not smoking and hardly any booze, no drugs, and not worrying about things out of his control certainly helped him.

I turned 68 on 3/14/24; four times the age of innocence (4x17=68)  LOL______!