Some time back I posted about a friend of mine in Phoenix who I had recently touched base with after many years.
I hadn't realized how many years it had been until Sam Lowe told me he was now a nonagenarian, i.e. a person who had lived into his 90's.
Fortunately (as the case may be) I find that I am far, far younger than Mr. Lowe.
I'm only a sprightly 83.
A mere octogenarian.
But then a picture came to me of a gathering of old-timers and I realized the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.
It was taken over 70 years ago when four young men were about to go their separate ways in life.
They are, from left to right, Jack Burbidge (who just recently passed away at 91), Wayne Taylor (my big brother), Bob Jensen (who provided the photograph), and Jack Edwards.
The latter three are all 90 years old now.
They are pictured, I believe, outside of what was then the Presbyterian Church in Stanley, North Dakota, a small town where they all grew up.
They were collectively known as The Four Horsemen.
It was a different time then, an era of double-breasted suits and wide neckties.
I doubt that any of them, in those sun-dappled days of youth, ever entertained the idea that one day, they might become known as nonagenarians.
Who among us ever thinks of growing old?
The Four Horsemen, eh?
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Apocalypse was included. :^D
DeleteSome of my colleagues refer to me as Death, a vampire, or a robot. It helps that I encourage this. 😀
DeleteAs young dude they were stylish. I wonder how many times in their lives double breasted suits and wide ties have been in and out of fashion?
ReplyDeleteI'm a young'un, just turning 78, so I can't relate to all this growing old stuff. I was going to say something else, but I forget what it was. Anyway, there's a can of insure in the fridge, calling to me.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to say on every birthday "beats the alternative!' and was always happy to be a year older.
ReplyDeleteAs I approach 70 I wonder where the years have gone. I don't feel old but to many, I would be considered that way. After losing a brother in his teens, another in his twenties and my husband at 59, I celebrate every birthday I can!
ReplyDeleteThey look like a singing group. Did all young men require spectacles back in Stanley? I very much doubt that that cold day when snow was on the ground that they considered for even one brief moment that they would grow old.
ReplyDeleteActually they were a singing group. Church choir, men's and mixed choruses at school. And I was struck by the spectacles too. I remember my brother's were frequently broken and taped together with white adhesive tape.
DeleteI think about growing old more now that I am actually doing it. I want to grow really old as the alternative is unthinkable. I want to see my youngest grand daughters (14 months) and my great grandson (5 months) grow up.
ReplyDeleteOf course we don't think of getting old...we are still ourselves inside..the outside sometimes comes as a surprise!!
ReplyDeleteI would be THRILLED to eventually be a nonagenarian. It's interesting how three of them are wearing such similar jackets in the photo, and all four have glasses! They DO look like a singing group.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo!
ReplyDeleteThe Four Lads -- all in spectacles.
ReplyDelete