Life at 58

I've always had this fear -
of growing old and wrinkled and ugly...
i've always feared the misery and sickness and immobility
that comes with old age and growing old...
in fact the fear was so great -
that at the age of 10 i'd already wished i would be dead at 45
so i would not be old and ugly and sickly and a burden to others...

But now that i've past that 'ideal' age of 45 -
every year is an extra special bonus from God...
that i would use carefully and gratefully and thankfully -
in His service: to help touch the lives of all who come me by...
every year would be a great year for friends to later remember me by -
and a year to recollect and reminise and recall when i'm really, truly old...

So, i'll go on touching lives and bringing joy to all who come by -
and thank God for giving the 10-year-old a second chance at growing old...