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Getting Older

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By Philip Harmon
Just found out that the 3rd guy (out of 5) from my old college band is having a baby, his wife, that is.  The 3rd guy!  Ouch!  My buddy Rick (who's the only non-father now besides me) went to see our buddy playing at 42nd street last night and it was there that I heard the news.

And as I prepare for my 35 birthday in less than a month, I am beginning to realize that I might be getting older.  Not old, mind you.  But older.  And the tell-tale signs would definitely be the friends-having-babies thing.  Another one that I don't hear much about is the college dogs dying. Because we all know that one of the first things you do when you get your own place in college is get a dog.  Its also one of the stupidest things to do.  But hey, "got my own place, need my own dog."  So in 10-15 years these beloved animals start to die.  I've lost 2 of my 3 college-age dogs. Floyd, the single coolest fucking bassett hound that ever lived, die last spring after 14 years.  And then I just lost my golden Sammy.  My choco lab Barley is 11.5 years old and is hobbling along pretty nicely...

So yeah, getting older.  And I thought of another thing about the age thing which I'll mention now and will probably expand on in a later post.  Your 30's are when you really become an adult and are getting older and doing things that older people do.  Meaning... your 20's are still childhood years.  Proof:  count back 10 years- one decade- from your present age and realize what you were doing.  When your 21 and finally legal to drink beer, a decade earlier you were 11.  Yeah, enough said.  When your 25 and so in love and getting married... 10 years earlier you were 15 and still passing notes in home room.  You're 28 and rapidly approaching 30.  You're a real adult.  Yeah, bullshit.  10 years earlier you were 18 and getting rejection letters to colleges.

Now jump to your 30's and do the same thing.  I'm going to be 35 real damn soon.  10 years ago and had already weathered my first divorce.  I was bartending at the Angus Barn.  I was working real hard on my alcoholism and I loved to smoke pot.  I had a mortgage and bills out the ass....

I think you get the point.  I'm looking forward to my forties, so my 10 years back thing won't be quite as humbling.  Of course, in my early 40's I'll be doing the 10 years back thing and will be thinking about my cocaine daze known as my 4 years in Aspen.  Who knows, maybe one day soon I'll decide to grow up and be a man.  

And more good news... I think I've successfully weathered today's hang over.  So now I shall read my book....................

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