You Kids Get Off My Lawn!

[the_gneech]

Thanks all for the birthday wishes! ^.^ graveyard_greg even gave me some Forgotten English, which is always welcome. ;)

So here I am, officially the same age as Jack Benny, contemplating the state of my life at what I'm going to have to admit is something like middle age. It's weird how some people have a "natural age." sirfox, for instance, says that he was born a crotchetey old man and that his body just hasn't caught up with him yet. (That's as may be, but he's remarkably open-minded for a crotchety old man as far as I can tell.)

For myself, ever since I was 24 or so, I've thought of myself as being "around 30," and when somebody asks me how old I am, I have to stop and think about how not-really-around-30 I am. I've got the classic round Anglo-Celtic face and am generally one of those people who reaches "middle age" in their 20s and stays there until they're 75. My dad is like that, as is my aunt (his sister), and my own sister. My brother, not so much, but he's had a bit of a rough life by comparison.

Point is, date of birth says I'm 39 ... how did I get here so fast? I remember when I was kid the idea of being 25 seemed like it would take forever. Aside from the occasional white whisker plucked from my beard and a bald spot on the back of my head which I wouldn't be aware of except for the occasional ribbing from somebody, the only physical indicator I would have that I'm not quite as "around 30" as I think of myself as being is a handful of medical symptoms which are not so much in themselves but are starting to build up. Asthma, which snuck up on me sometime in my early 30s. Blood pressure creeping upward. Cholesterol creeping upward. A general tendency to get tired a bit more quickly than I used to.

On the other hand, I do find myself more often than I used to getting blank stares from the people around me when I make some pop-culture reference that hasn't actually been pop culture for ages. How many of you out there in LJ-land get the significance of everything in the following paragraph?

"It's the Rip Taylor / Paul Lynde Comedy Special! With guest stars Henry Gibson! Vicki Lawrence! Shields and Yarnell! Musical guests Andy Williams! And the Captain and Tennille!"

In 1976, that would have been as contemporary as Ceiling Cat watching you play Portal. For that matter, in 1976, that may have actually been on television for all I know!

Really, that's the only thing that makes me "aware of my age," in as much as I am aware of it -- encountering people who have no idea who Mr. Bill is, or getting fan mail from people who were born during the first Bush administration, or talking to someone who thinks of Dirty Dancing as a great old classic.

But even that's not really a big deal. My sense of humor is sometimes so obscure that people exactly my age will look at me and go, "Buh?" when I make some bizarre joke. By this time, I'd better be used to blank stares, or I'll never be!

Anyway, thanks, all. :) I can't properly express how much it means to have people thinkin' of me.

-The Gneech

Comments

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

You're about as old as you feel. By that logic, you should be probably younger than me. Regardless, you still get gifts of cake and fire on said cake. Happy birthday, ye ol' scallywag!!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Danke! :)

-TG

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I don't feel old as such, but there are times. I have to remember that a quip about an 18-1/2 minute gap might need to be explained to some now. The dates displayed at gas stations, er "convenience stores" for dates-of-birth for purchase of alcohol or tobacco have gone from just years I was alive in, through years I can remember, and are getting into years I can remember fairly well.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when the year I graduated high school went by on one of those, I had a bit of a boggle.

-TG

[m0nkeygrl.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

-TG

[aj-hyena.livejournal.com]

Chronologically, I am 31, myself. I certainly only feel 14, though...

[sirfox.livejournal.com]

well, there's growing old, and growing up. My father still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, and he's near retirement. I think it's a family trait.

[yippee.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday! I hit the big 4-0 earlier this year, thankfully I don't really look it. Yay for being half-Asian and thus don't fit the Caucasian aging markers. I'd won a couple stuffed animals on the midway from some age-guessing carnies.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And no, you certainly don't look it, nor act it either. ;) In a good way!

-TG

[susandeer.livejournal.com]

Chronologically, I'm 35, nearing 6 squared. Cannot tell you how much it tickles me (wow, how old-fashioned is THAT?) when someone says they don't believe it! My last landlord thought I was 28! I'm fairly certain that it's a side-effect of not having children, but as long as I can remember, I've always been "responsible... 14-going-on-28. The kind of kid you wanted your kid to hang around with because she'd keep them out of trouble. This is why Donna and I were friends, y'see. she's a trouble-maker!

Btw, I got half of those references. But I must admit that I never knew who Andy williams was until his appearance in an episode of Dexter's Laboratory and Bennie explained it. He seemed familiar... Oh, yeah! The Gong Show!

[jamesbarrett.livejournal.com]

I get the same responses. Everyone around me thinks I'm between 28-32 when really, I'm about to hit the 40 mark. -Frisk

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I still wonder why "The Captain and Tennille" didn't make it as a variety show.

[klepsydra.livejournal.com]

Ah, is that why he was reduced to advertising fishfingers on TV? ^.-^

[tehrasha.livejournal.com]

It couldnt compete with the awesomeness of Tony Orlando and Dawn. :)

[klepsydra.livejournal.com]

As one who achieved that pinnacle some five days before you, let me tell you that the view from Pier 39 is a good one. (But man, are you ever right about all these weirdos who expect you to act all grown up!)

[thirdhorse.livejournal.com]

Have A Happy 39th Birthday

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

-TG

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday, Gneech!

(I wonder how many of your younger readers know what a gneech IS...)

I'm only a few years younger than you, but here's what I remember of your 1976 retrospective...

Rip Taylor -- Very barely.
Paul Lynde -- He will always be the center square of Hollywood Squares to me.
Henry Gibson -- Who?
Vicki Lawrence -- Who?
Shields and Yarnell -- Mimes! I remember them from the Muppet Show!
Andy Williams -- Very vaguely.
The Captain and Tennille! -- I remember them, somewhat, as a disco band.

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

Rip Taylor: Obnoxious, debatably unfunny prop comic, known for throwing confetti.
Henry Gibson: The guy on "Laugh-In" who recited bad poetry while holding a sunflower.
Vicki Lawrence: "Mama" on the Carol Burnett Show; spun off into "Mama's Family".
Andy Williams: o/` Mooooon Riverrrr... o/`
The Captain & Tennille: o/` Love / Love will keep us togethah o/`

(Apparently the Captain's real name is Daryl Dragon. How cool is that?) :}

Happy Birthday

[kagur.livejournal.com]

Perhaps belated, but still thinking of you. I hope things are going better for you.

Re: Happy Birthday

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

-TG

[bearblue.livejournal.com]

*grins* Happy Birthday! *hugs* :)

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I liked the balloons. ^.^

-TG

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Welcome to "almost olde pharte-hood", my friend! }:-D

Regardless of what the calendar says, you'll be fine if you just make sure you never completely grow up. };-)

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Heehee. :) Thanks!

-TG

Tanjobi Omedeto!

[katayamma.livejournal.com]

Watching men land on the moon.

Nuff said.

Re: Tanjobi Omedeto!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I missed that by five months, alas!

-TG

[rhanlav.livejournal.com]

o/` Birthday Song, Very Long. o/`

--Salen

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

o/` This is the song that never ends... o/`

-TG

[darkwolfie.livejournal.com]

Happy Birfday!!!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

-TG

[raemonde.livejournal.com]

] I actually got most of the cultural references you threw out... but I'm only seven years behind you.

] Also, hope you had a great one!

-Rob

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

-TG

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

Hapsy Burstway!

[teric.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, Jon!

Heh I was only three years old in 1976, so no, I don't quite get the reference. But that's not going to keep me away from checking back at the comics on a daily basis.

Hope you had a good one.

Birthday wishes

[grizzly47.livejournal.com]

Dear Gneech,

Happy birthday. I know this is a few days late, but I hope your birthday was a happy one.

Sincerely,

Grizzly...

[kaysho.livejournal.com]

Hey, Happy (errrrm, rather belated) Birthday! :)