These Happy Golden Years

Loyal blog readers are wondering ... so what does the Spaceman LOOK like anyway? One would think that someone who works as a photographer for a living would have ample shots of himself. "I'm rarely on the other end of the camera," he advised. So the best I can give you is this Doonesbury cartoon.

Duke properly embodies his approximate appearance and attitude. Bill has more hair and he doesn't smoke, but everything else is spot on.

I had occasion this weekend to go on a business trip to a golf resort in Vermont (I know, tough job). I met up with a personable married couple about my age who have been together over 20 years. Despite 2 decades together, they still appeared to like one another. What novelty!

They golf together, hike, ride motorcycles ... all sorts of fun, convivial activities. I felt the same way after meeting them as I did last month on another fun-filled trip to a Penn. resort, when I saw a family walking towards the tennis courts together. Mom, Dad, Biff, & Bunny - all on vacation together - oh, these happy golden years!

So what happened to me? Not that I'm bitter or anything. But I should be walking around the swanky hotel with my happy nuclear family, reaping the rewards of a lifetime of hard work, finally resting on my laurels and sharing the bounty with my loved ones.

But no -- I'm cruising websites and hitting the bar scene at a time of my life when honestly, I just want to bake up a batch of flax seed muffins and fold laundry. What a cruel joke it is, being thrust into the dating scene at age 40.

Of course, cartoon characters are ageless. Duke and Honey have been circling in the gray area of their non-relationship for 30 years now. He, always unattainable and cynical. She always hopeful. Now, I've only been dating for about 3 years so maybe there's hope for me yet. I can't imagine still going at it at age 73. Talk about your happy golden years.