By today's standards I started young.  But at the time and in the 
place, we were considered quite mature.  At all of 24 Suzy was the 
oldest woman in the maternity ward, and possibly the only one having 
her first child.  There were plenty of incentives to make babies in 
1976, New South Wales, Australia.  Fearing that once we were home in 
the USA, with the health care system just beginning to go out of 
control, we thought we should have one while we could benefit from 
socialized medicine.  I know most Americans believe the horror stories 
about SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, but I'm convinced its a good thing, and from 
a public health standpoint much better than what we have now.  As our 
Aussie Doctor once commented, "Where's it written that Doctors are 
supposed to be rich?"  And besides, doctors are trained and heavily 
subsidized at public expense, just like fighter pilots.  Highly trained 
and deeply in dept.  That makes them special, just like everyone else.

Oh, I was a ripe old 27.  I'm just another boomer, like you...but 
somehow I often think you are younger.  Sometimes where you were in 
relationship to the end of the draft is a hell of a demarcation.  And 
yes, I'm old as hell now.  But that's just the guy in the mirror.  The 
guy looking out is only 14.  (I can REALLY relate to "The Graduate" 
now!)  (And Mrs C. is a lot better looking than Mrs. Robinson.)

Yup.  Wives are great.  But I'm not upset with mine at the moment.  
Something she's been saying for several years...at least I only 
remember her saying it for several years, it might be decades...sunk in 
recently and I've been trying to act on it.  The results are 
interesting.  They aren't the results who's anticipation may have 
motivated me, but they are interesting and pleasant.  Its kind of like 
quitting smoking.  Who knew you'd like yourself better and that that 
would be the reward?  Besides, with the rest of my life going to hell, 
I can't afford to screw up the one thing that is going well.

-jc






On May 20, 2004, at 10:12 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Did ytou start young, or are you old as hell now? I have no more idea 
> what I'm doing now than I did
> > when the kids were little, and am not better at predicting what they
> > will or will not want to do.Yeah, I definitely feel better now.  
> They pick up all my bad habits, but I
> > only know this because its been brought to my attention. Aren't 
> those wives great?