An ambitious reporter writing a profile on legendary movie star Cary Grant sent the actor the following telegram: “How old Cary Grant?”

The witty Grant replied with the telegram “Old Cary Grant fine. How you?” Even the ageless star was a bit sensitive about his age.

I’ve been thinking about aging as my birthday approaches March 4th. It’s not a landmark birthday, ending in ‘0,’ but each one after 30 stings a bit.

To make matters worse, we are an ageist society. Sexism and racism are understandably taboo (as they should be), but ageism gets a pass, though it should not. We freely discriminate against age in numerous ways. Many (though not all) younger folk resent the fact that their elders have more experience and knowledge than they do, not realizing that we pay a price for those extra years. That price includes gray hair, crow’s-feet around the eyes and aching knees when we get up in the morning. We continually fight the battle of the bulge as well. ... Having friends both younger and older than myself gives me a unique perspective on this aging issue.

Fortunately, I look younger than my age. I have my parents’ genes to thank for that, along with a semi-healthy lifestyle. I still think of myself as younger than I am, and to my detriment, don’t always act my age.

However, there are landmarks along the way, like celebrity birthdays, that bring me back to reality. Paul McCartney will be 70 in two years. Elton John (who I met a few years back) is 62; Steven Spielberg is 64. Harrison Ford will be 70 in two years; Bruce Willis will be 60 in five years. Johnny Depp will be 50 in three short years. Drew Barrymore will be 40 in five years. Tiger Woods (35 going on 15) will be 40 in five years as well. Most shocking of all, the “Zoom-Zoom Kid” from the car commercials will be 20 this year.

I’ve noticed as I have gotten older I‘ve begun to wax nostalgic; harkening back to older, simpler times. Being part of the second half of the boomer generation, I was able to grow up with two cultural institutions: Rock and roll and TV.

Many of my memories revolve around black-and-white TV shows like “I Love Lucy” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” both iconic, classic sitcoms, and shows like “The Avengers” and “Wild, Wild West.” Many of the songs I remember as a kid are now seen (and heard) in Time-Life infomercials. Groups like the Zombies, the Buckinghams and the Lovin’ Spoonful. Songs like “She’s not There,” “Kind of a Drag” and “Summer in the City.” These songs are like three-minute time machines that yank you back into the past, where sepia-toned images seen through rose-colored glasses reawaken memories of family, friends and events from long ago. These melodic, upbeat songs celebrate love, youth, cars and music. As I get older, the songs that hit me the hardest are the ones about getting older: “Help” (The Beatles), “Desperado” (The Eagles), “MacArthur Park” (Richard Harris),”The Living Years”(Mike and the Mechanics), and “Against the Wind” (Bob Seger). They are songs about regrets, lost youth, living in the new world.

It is hard not to look at life today through a filter of times past. Driving around Johnstown I notice things that are gone: The Sani-Dairy Building, the Swank Building, the Elks Lodge. The old City Cycle store with its neon- encased bicycle on top of its sign. We take comfort in the things that are still here: Morley’s Dog, Central Park, the Old Stone Bridge.

As the memory banks overflow with events from the past, we are also reminded of the downside of aging: Health issues. Three friends of mine have had major surgery this past year. It goes with the territory of aging; I also received my wakeup call as well not too long ago. These events make us appreciate life and not take it for granted. It also makes us appreciate our family and friends as well; they make our life even more special.

And so I have no real wisdom to share on the eve of another birthday. Just live each day like it is your last ... because it might just be. ... And above all, never give up. Just keep runnin’ against the wind.



Bill Eggert is a Johnstown resident.