AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
According to an old saying, “You are only as old as you feel.”
But after turning 70 years old on Jan. 29, I decided maybe it was time for me to take an assessment of that adage after making 70 glorious trips around the sun.
Fortunately, my mind still wants to believe that I’m probably somewhere in my mid-40s. I have all the confidence in the world that I can do whatever I want. I want to get up early and go to bed late, hang out with all of my younger friends (yes, I do have them), and go to work every day (including Saturday and Sunday). I want to hang out with my children and grandson and do whatever they want to do. In other words, I want to do everything that I did as a younger man.
Unfortunately, my body is telling me something different. My doctor says that “My health is good for the health I’m in.” But I’ve come to recognize that while scampering up and down the Badlands still is tempting, I can also enjoy just looking at them. I’ve got a few more creaks in my joints and terribly flat feet that are now even making going on long walks somewhat discomforting.