EIGHTY!

Aaaaaaaaaaaannnnddd!
Here we go!
80!
Eighty!
Eight-Zero!
Ate Oh!

The day has arrived!
It is now official and I am now not even asked for proof that I qualify for the senior discount.

And some questions that are often asked at a stage like this:

Do you feel older?
Well, every day I feel older. You reach a certain stage in life when just getting out of bed in the morning makes one feel older. You just kind of wonder,"What's going to hurt today?"

Do you feel like you are eighty?
I don't know. Never been eighty before. What's it feel like? What's it supposed to feel like? Any different from seventy-nine?

So, what's planned for the Big Day Today?
Not much! Rather quiet. We had our November birthday celebration here at the Village on Tuesday - nice meal, good company and as a special treat I opened and shared one of those "special" bottles of scotch that I have been gifted with over the years. You know the ones - "saving for a special occasion" and getting folks all bent as they wondered what might be a special occasion as the bottles remained corked through my 70th, retirement, 50th Anniversary and turning 75. Well, one got opened for this Special Occasion and shared. Half left - guess that will be good for 90!
Meantime, today is set for my drive out to Oxford to join the Dominican Sisters of Peace, as I have been doing for ten years now. They have planned a birthday dinner and that will be it.

And looking back . . . what?
Surprise after surprise after surprise - not at all what I had planned or expected!
A Masters in Liturgical Theology from the University of Notre Dame - no way!
Pastor at 34 - you are kidding!
Adjunct faculty in grad theology - who me?
Four wonderful parishes - St. Clement of Rome, Precious Blood, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Aidan - to pastor on this journey - for me?
Discuss theology of Confirmation with Cardinal Dearden the master theologian - oh, right!
And debate issues one on one in their private residence with Cardinals - for real?
And serve in a key role for the Papal Visit to Detroit - yep! Sure!
And earn a sabbatical to study in Rome in the shadow of the Vatican - not a chance!
And concelebrate Mass with Pope St. John Paul II in his private chapel - again, no way!
And then meet him, shake his hand and have a (brief) personal conversation - Seriously?

Surprise after surprise after surprise!
And I know exactly the Cause and Source of all that and so much more - "My thoughts are not your thoughts and My ways are not your ways!" 

Yes, it has been quite a ride so far.
So, thank you to the One who charted the course.
Thank you to all who have shared in the ride.

I can't wait to see what is around the next bend!