YOLO

The Baby Boomer is a worrier. Yep, always have been and always will be. My dad was a worrier and both our daughter, Baby Bear, and son, The King (although he won’t admit it), are worriers too-it’s in our DNA. I have, over time, been more able to only worry about things in my control which is say’in something for me.

This past week or so I’ve felt very mortal and I believe that’s mainly due to it being a year since I had my open-heart surgery and all the pain La Bear endured prior to her hip replacement surgery in late January. Five prior posts immediately come to mind concerning this current feeling of mine: “Open-Heart Surgery”, “My Legacy”, “My, How Time Flies”, “It’s HELL Getting Old”, and “What’s Missing in Your Life”. I’ll admit, I’m mentally much better than I was and there’s a reason for that as I believe we all, as we get older, feel more mortal from time to time. Frankly, it’s all about controlling one’s “attitude”.

Last week, with La Bear, Baby Bear, Big Red (our son-in-law), and our grandson Master M, we all headed to Charlottesville to enjoy an excellent pizza at a restaurant by the name of Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. We began by enjoying a basket of fresh hand-cut French fries which were hot and delicious followed by a great house-made sausage and pepperoni pizza.

Richmond has become a hot spot for micro-brewed beer and at one, named Triple Crossing Beer, they produce an outstanding IPA called Falcon Smash. At Dr. Ho’s, I was very excited to see one of their draft beers is Falcon Smash, that is, until I found out a pint was $9. Now, that might not stop you from enjoying this delectable IPA, but knowing how cheap the Baby Boomer is, that staggering price stopped me “dead in my tracks”.

As you may recall if you read my post entitled “Our ‘Stuff'”, Baby Bear, like my mother, is the consummate shopper better known as a “shopaholic”. Each time we’re at their home, I’m so totally amazed and beyond taken aback by the vast number of outfits, along with all the accessories, she possesses and continues to accumulate which has earned her the nickname “Queen of Stuff”!! Kudos to Big Red for being so accepting and tolerant of Baby Bear’s sickness from which I doubt she’ll ever recover from.

I digressed, but at Dr. Ho’s Big Red ordered up a Falcon Smash. Not minding my business and being a typical father-in-law, I piped up and asked him if he knew that ONE beer was an outrageous nine bucks?Being the gentleman that he is, he just politely said nothing, knowing, that Baby Bear would probably intervene and, of course, she did by just saying “YOLO”.

Well, I immediately felt bad, like I always do, when my mouth gets in the way of good common sense, but, not being up with this modern jargon, I had no idea what the hell “YOLO” meant. Baby Bear merely provided me with the interpretation of “You Only Live Once” which completely caught me off guard and a bit awestruck to the point where I became internally very pensive.

You know, here I am in this mood of feeling so mortal, a little “down in the dumps”, so happy to be with my family when I add a bit of “insult to injury” running off at the mouth in typical Baby Boomer style. Way to go you idiot and on top of all this I’m put in my place with our daughter simply saying “YOLO”.

Baby Bear has always been very objective and has the ability to put things into perfect perspective. It’s a talent few have, but if you want to be told truthfully how it really is–just ask Baby Bear. Believe you me, she is never harsh in her objectivity, just brutally straightforward and honest.

So, after Dr. Ho’s, we headed to King Family Vineyards to take in the pastoral setting and for La Bear to enjoy a flight of white wine and for Baby Bear and Big Red to split a bottle of red. The Baby Boomer passed as he’s not one who really enjoys wine preferring the “hard stuff “if you know what I mean. Anyway, he was also the “DD” for the day as we still needed to safely return to The Compound from Crozet.

On the ride back, the wine had done its due and relaxed both the Baby Bear and Big Red so they could nap. La Bear was more focused on Master M allowing me to remain in my pensive state evaluating my current state of mind in the quiet of the ride. Certainly, I freely admit I haven’t lived the “perfect” life (who has) and I do have regrets as explained in my earlier post entitled “Regrets, I’ve Had A Few”. Afterall, I’m human with human frailties, but feel overall I’ve lived a life which has been well-lived having concentrated on my “dash” referencing another earlier post “A Look Back at 2023 & My Resolve for 2024”.

I also know that being in the Winter of my life, I want more time and time is not on my side. Having said many times that tomorrow is never promised, I need to focus on now, today, and not waste what time I have left on the petty and the trivial remembering “YOLO”.

These last few years our family has had some opportunities with our health. We know many folks who are facing some real health challenges and tragically some folks who are no longer with us some having left us far too soon–it’s very, very sad!! Why is it that we as human beings tend to focus on the “gloom and doom” rather than the positives as bad news tends to travel fast?

In summarizing, I’m once again feeling much better with my head back on straighter than it was. The Baby Boomer wishes to thank Baby Bear for giving me some needed perspective with the rest being totally up to me. I have some work to do, but am confident I will be successful in my attempt to focus on the good vs the not so good. Not only do I need to keep my big mouth shut, but I need to “chill” and settle down a good bit as “YOLO”!! Wish me luck!!