When I'm Sixty-Four

Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth (i.e., 1967), Sir Paul McCartney sang:

When I get older, losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

The answer, alas, turned out to be “no” for both Sir Paul and YrHmblScrb. The song, however, remains a classic. Here’s the original version, coupled with a wonderfully well done animation.

So… yeah. We’re 64 today and it’s funny-strange how things come to pass. There was once a time when we were quite sure we’d never reach this age… what with choosing the profession of arms as our first career, the nature of our hobbies, and a habit of taking more risks than were sensible or prudent up until late middle-age. It all seems rather tame now, in retrospect.

And so here we are… a lil worse for wear (and only a little, mind you!) in nearly every dimension, save one. And that one dimension? We’ve come to realize we’re not nearly as smart as we thought we were 40, 30, or even 20 years ago. Progress.