Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (And Whimsy)

Posted on August 16, 2023 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

Prime time. Singing and playing tunes.

“Those were the best days of my life.”

Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams

Out of the mouths of babes.

There was a television show that aired back in the 90s. It was called “Kids Say the Darndest things”. Art Linkletter talked to kids about a variety of subjects and got their opinion about religion, government, families and other assorted topics. It was hilarious and it was one of the most popular shows on television back then.

Every once in a while, you’ll hear something that is quite startling and unexpected. Such was the case last week, only this time, the comment that caught my attention didn’t come out of the mouth of a young child. A 93-year-old woman received the devastating news that she had cancer and had very little time left. She was crushed and commented that she was in the prime of her life. I digested this. At first, I was amused that someone who had lived such a long time would consider her ninety third year as the prime of her life.

Theoretically, the prime time of life is usually considered as the best years of one’s life when one is at their peak of power and contentment.

When, exactly, is the prime time of one’s life?

If you asked an infant, he or she might say that being fed at their mother’s breast is a pretty good gig. You get to sleep most of the time and all you have to do is squawk a bit and you get fed. You are 100% dependent and have no worries whatsoever.

Is it possible that prime time is the day that you learned to walk? These were the very first steps of independence.

Or, how about your teenage years when you were filled with optimism and raging hormones? For some, the teenage years were anything but prime time. They were downright torturous.

Some of us were lucky enough to go to university, community college or trade school when we finished high school. If we were lucky enough to further our education in another city, this was the ultimate form of freedom. No longer were we under the prying eyes of our parents and we were completely independent. Well, not completely independent. We still relied on care packages from home which often included some much-needed cash. Care packages and cash have been replaced by e-transfers!

What could possibly be better than being married, having children and owning a home? For many, this period of life was truly prime time. We were firing on all cylinders, and we were indeed at the peak of our powers. We worked hard and played hard. Life was exhausting and exhilarating.

The kids are gone. Your debt is gone. You’re retired. What could possibly be better than this? You have the time to travel and pursue hobbies. You can sleep in until noon if you choose and every day is Saturday. You have also learned from your mistakes (hopefully) and are older and wiser.

Ah. The golden years. Your filters are all gone, and you can say whatever you damn well please. You are no longer fixated on making other people happy. Yes, you probably have some aches and pains but there is a sense of peace.

So, I ask you again. When is the prime time of life?

I believe that prime time is any time you’re happy, have a roof over your head, enough food to eat and a handful of good friends.

At the risk of being slapped silly, I think that this 93-year-old woman is a babe. Out of her mouth came words of wisdom.

Old people say the darndest things.

“May God bless and keep you always,

May your wishes all come true,

May you always do for others,

And let others do for you,

May you build a ladder to the stars, and climb on every rung,

May you stay forever young,

Forever young, forever young,

May you stay forever young.