The long and very short journey from ‘57 to now

Country Living with Francis Farragher

THERE was a fair confluence of emotions last week when the year 1957 took on its own special significance for me, but in fairness most of them were good ones, and little landmarks along the road of life are never too bad once a body and mind are in decent enough shape to enjoy them.

Back in 1987, on what was the first sun holiday of my life in the island of Cyprus, I remember being in a pub one night where a Scottish man held a bit of an impromptu party to celebrate his 50th birthday, and I thought to myself that: “Gee, this lad is pushing on a bit.”

The cycle of life does seem to motor into freewheel mode after 30 or so but there’s little point in trying to put any brake on that sprint of time, other than making a reasonable effort at enjoying each day as it comes and making the most of it.

Like many people of my generation, I tend to peruse the memoriam columns of the two local papers of the area – The Tuam Herald and the Connacht Tribune – where every week, without fail, you will see a face, and often someone you know, who has passed away without seeing 30 summers.

In that context, birthdays of increasing magnitude, are occasions to be celebrated rather than to get depressed about, as we really do have to make the most of the hand of cards that we have been dealt.

The passing years do have their curious consolations. You begin to realise that instead of trying to jog a 5k anymore, it makes a lot more sense to walk it; you get forgiven a lot more easily for forgetting the name of someone you haven’t met for a few years; and there’s a tad more consideration given to you when you plead for understanding on the need for a couple of ‘pints of plain’ to round off the chores of the day and settle you in for a good night’s sleep.

There’s also a tendency for the birthday class of ’57 to make a greater effort to abide by speed limits, (admittedly helped by those surreptitious white and red vans hiding behind trees and corners of walls), as one could be the target of a smirky remark such as: “That ould lad would want to slow down a bit in that fancy car.”

I’ve been told by people (who know about these things), that the older one gets, the more effort that should be put into stretching your muscles and loosening your joints every morning and evening, but you know you’re in trouble on this one, when you sit down to watch the nine-o-clock news but never get to see the weather at the end, due to the stealthy arrival of The Sandman.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.