July 02, 2011
I Am Sixty-Four
When I'm Sixty-Four
When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?
If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You'll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah)
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.
I could be handy mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave
Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
Whoo!
For many years, I threw a big party for my birthday. Then I turned 60 years old. That was the last time I had a big birthday party. I planned to to have one this year. However, my sister Gay Lynn is turning 60 and she is planning a huge party in two weeks. So, I thought it would be better to let all the lime light shine on her.
Still, I am 64 years old today.
The summer that I turned 20 years old, the Beatles release their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Roughly two years later, I really was getting into the Beatles. It might have even been at one of my birthday parties, that I was listening in the purple haze to "When I'm Sixty-Four" and laughing. I said to my friends "Will we ever be 64?" I think it was Greg Speltz or John Ganapes that assured me that, yes, we would be 64. But would we still be friends, sharing wine and spending time together.
I thought some about growing old over the years. I always knew that we might all get together again when I turned 64, because I would throw a party. Thankfully, many of my friends from 40 years ago are still my friends. And, of course, I have many new friends.
I will be at Gay Lynn's 60th birthday party on July 16th. I hope to see a lot of my old friends there. She will welcome all of you.
The lyrics to that old Beatles song haunt me a bit. But the answers the questions posed in the song are clear. You will be sending me a valentine, sending birthday greetings and sharing a bottle of wine.
I Am Sixty-Four
Taken 2 July 2011 in Bloomington, MN