Someone asked me "when did you realize you were old?" My answer came immediately "I'm not old". I'm on what some might consider the wrong side of 70, but I still do not consider myself old. I qualified my answer by saying that there are so many things I cannot do, or at least do as well, as when I was younger. I can't run as fast, I don't have the same reflexes I once had, I'm not anywhere as limber as I once was. SO WHAT. Those things are not important to me now.

What is important is that I am still able to do the things I want to do. Some the things I do now I do better than when I was younger.

Music occupies much of my life now. It was always important. I play the piano and keyboard. I play much better now than I ever did. It's like all those years of playing in taverns and restaurants were preparing me for this moment. And this moment. I think back on those years and they probably add up to more than 30. I wish I was as good then as I am now.

It's too bad that my music is not in demand in most venues any more. I play tunes from the the Beatles and earlier.. I know very little rock music and absolutely no rap music (which I do not consider music). So there is very little commercial interest in hearing me. I still play in senior centers, retirement communities and nursing homes.

So I am doing what I really enjoy and don't think about growing older because I am doing what I want.

I also recently learned that I can share my love of the piano with other seniors by teaching. For years, when I finished performing, people would come up to me saying they used to take piano lessons but gave them up for one reason or another. Now, they wish that had kept up the lessons . So now I can tell them if they really want to learn, I can teach them.

What all this is leading up to is if you don't feel old you aren't. I'm too busy to worry about my age.

When the day comes that I cannot do all the things I do now maybe I'll start to feel old. I just hope that when that time comes, I'll find something else to do. I'm betting that I do and I hope you do to.

I'd like to hear from you to learn how you are staying young.