Birthday

Today is my birthday. Today I enter the year that will signify my presence on this planet for three quarters of a century.

Three quarters of a century!

I have experienced a lot. I am glad that I can look back and feel that I have made use of the time I had, mostly good and fascinating experiences, some not so good but still in their way fascinating. I have not done anything that will change the world, but some of the things I have done have changed the lives of some, and as far as I know, for the better.

I have had achievements and I have also made many mistakes, as does everyone. None of us escape that. There are things I might have done differently if I knew in advance what the outcome would be, but we don't have the privilege of knowing that, we can only do our best.

I don't feel that I have passed three quarters of a century here. My body still works pretty well, my mind still functions reasonably, and mostly I try to ignore the niggling nuisances of advancing age. I go on doing things the way I always have.

But I still find that my way of thinking about things has changed from what it was in my younger days. Those feelings of youth, that you can do anything, have passed, and become a more rational way of deciding what can and can't or should or shouldn't be done. The best example is that these days, if I am considering keeping a new puppy, the thought arises - “Will he outlive me?”

I hope I will have the time for another generation of two of dogs in the next quarter century. I plan for it...Another quarter century would be good...

One of my favorite poems when I was young was “The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay” by Oliver Wendell Holmes. So I leave you with a chance to read it.

The Deacon's Masterpiece or, The Wonderful 'One-Hoss Shay'

Have you heard of the wonderful one-hoss shay,
That was built in such a logical way,
It ran a hundred years to a day?
And then, of a sudden, it -- ah, but stay,
I'll tell you what happened without delay,
Scaring the parson into fits,
Frightening people out of their wits, --
Have you ever heard of that, I say? . . .

Now in building of chaises, I tell you what,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot, --
In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill,
In panel, or crossbar, or floor, or sill,
In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, -- lurking still,
Find it somewhere you must and will, --
Above or below, or within or without, --
And that's the reason, beyond a doubt,
That a chaise breaks down, but doesn't wear out.

Then the Deacon swore (as Deacons do,
With an 'I dew vum,' or an 'I tell yeou')
He would build one shay to beat the taown
'n' the keounty 'n' all the kentry raoun';
It should be so built that it couldn't break daown:
'Fur,' said the Deacon, ''t's mighty plain
Thut the weakes' place mus' stan' the strain;
'n' the way t' fix it, uz I maintain,
Is only jest
T' make that place us strong us the rest.' . . .

. . .

All at once the horse stood still,
Close by the meet'n'-house on the hill.
First a shiver and then a thrill,
Then something decidedly like a a spill, --
And the parson was sitting upon a rock, . . .
What do you think the parson found,
When he got up and stared around?
The poor old chaise in a heap or mound,
As if it has been to the mill and ground! . . .

End of the wonderful one-hoss shay.
Logic is logic. That's all I say.

--- O. W. Holmes

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!

Anyone who wants to help me celebrate my next birthday back home in Israel, please look at the following link:

https://gogetfunding.com/help-bring-myrna-and-the-canaan-dogs-home/#