Fond memories and hopeful plans as I eye my 85th birthday
This opinion piece reflects the views of John Hazlehurst only and are not endorsed by the Pikes Peak Bulletin.
Facing an uncomfortable reality has never been my strongpoint.
Eight years ago, I crashed my bike and woke up in a hospital in urgent care. I thought I'd be okay in a few weeks, but it took months and I never fully recovered.
I'll turn 85 in November and, instead of falling happily to sleep at night, I wonder whether I'll wake up in the morning. And if I have a restless night with particularly nasty nightmares, I wonder if the grim reaper is knocking at my door.
But so what? I've always been foolishly optimistic about the future, so why stop now? Looking back is fun, and there's still fun to be had. So here are five cheerful memories, and five optimistic plans for the near future. Let's start with the memories:
Memory #1
Instead of plodding sullenly through grad school and getting a job on Wall Street, I took my savings and bought an ancient sailboat and sailed around the world. It took six years and lots of side hustles as I persisted … but oh the memories!
Memory #2
Rather than giving up and going back to the States, I settled down in Grenada, became deeply involved in businesses both legal and illegal - and it all somehow worked out.
Memory #3
Back in the States, I worked on Wall Street as an investment banker, made a surprising amount of money, blew most of it on failed enterprises, moved to Miami, became a drug kingpin (no cocaine, just low-quality weed), and fled back to my hometown in 1981 when I suspected that the DEA was after me.
Memory #4
I settled down in Colorado Springs for a quiet, rewarding life. Lots of jobs and community ventures, a couple of stints on City Council, a career in journalism, wonderful friends, and always dogs.
Memory #5
Many lives, three wives, and splendid children, grandchildren and great-grands. I love them all, and hope that I can make it to 85 (Nov. 5) and have a big party. Given my failing memory and eyesight, let's have supersized name tags!
And here are the hopes for the future:
Plan #1
A trip to Cripple Creek, a night at the Chamonix and a resounding win at the slots … could I hope for five figures?!
Plan #2
Good health for all, especially for our three wonderful and bonded young dogs. At one-, three- and four-years-old, they'll almost certainly outlive me, and they bring joy and youth to us every day.
Plan #3
Peaceful sleep and fewer nightmares.
Plan #4
Seeing old friends more often. Alas, so many have died, fled to Florida or Arizona or have so withdrawn from social interaction (that would be me, unfortunately) that they've effectively vanished. Steve, Jimmy, Bill, Bob, Jane, Jean - feel free to text, call or even drop by.
Plan #5
And most of all, enjoying time with my beloved spouse Karen. She's calm, gracious and optimistic about everything, regardless of circumstances. Without her, I'd be stuck in some awful old folk's home, just waiting around to die.
I’ve always been foolishly optimistic about the future, so why stop now?
So life is good, as long as it may last. I spent the last several hours looking through the Colorado Springs High School yearbook of the class of 1958. I'm invisible, thanks to my foolish contempt of all high school activities - but I'm looking forward to seeing the remnants of our class on Aug. 20. Maybe I should bring my yearbook and ask the once-cute girls and cool guys to sign it. Better late than never - even though they're now cackling crones and groaning geezers!
