Life is great at 68

I just turned 68. And I must say, life is great! Ginnie and I are building a huge addition onto our house. It will give us three more garage spaces, to add to the single garage space we already have. Plus, there is a basement room below the garage so we will have a storm shelter, an exercise room on the ground level for the treadmill and elliptical machine, and attic storage above. Or, I should say, the contractor is building the addition. We stay out of his way, like good little home owners. Ginnie is already eying the attic space for storage of Christmas decorations.

Why do we need four garage spaces? Well, one for Ginnie?s car, and one each for my car, pick-up, and Ginnie?s Gator. That?s four. The tractor and all its attachments stay out in the barn where they belong.

Ginnie asked me what I wanted to eat on my birthday. I didn?t have to put much thought into it?grilled burgers, sweet corn, and cucumbers-and-onions. It doesn?t get much better than that. Of course, there was a strawberries-and-cream gourmet birthday cake for dessert.

Ginnie also asked me what I wanted to do on my birthday. You know you?re getting old when you want to stay home on your birthday and watch television. Of course, it was the last night of the Democratic National Convention when history was made with the first woman to be nominated to run for president of the United States. We couldn?t miss that. Only in America will you see a woman and a reality-show host run against each other for the highest office in the land.

Ginnie got me a real nice running watch for my birthday. It shows the distance run, pace, time, and pulse?from the wrist, no chest band. It also counts my steps and interfaces with my smart phone, so I can receive emails and texts while running. I wanted a running watch so I can quit guessing as to the distance I am running. Oh, yes, it is also a clock so I can wear it as a wristwatch 24-7, and keep track of my steps and heart rate during the day. Cool. Like four garage spaces, I am now the proud owner of four watches. I have a dress watch, work watch, everyday watch, and now, a running watch. Two wrists and two ankles make four watch appendages.

The next day Ginnie had off. We went to town and purchased a flat screen television for the new exercise room, had lunch, and took in an afternoon movie (so we could stay awake)??Jason Bourne.? There?s nothing like a good ole action spy thriller with Matt Damon to get the blood boiling and top off a quality birthday. By the way, I really appreciated all the birthday wishes from friends on Facebook. All this, plus a loving wife. I?m a lucky man.

Next year at this time I will be 69. I have every reason to believe life will be fine.

Ginnie?s birthday will be this month. Conveniently, her birthday is Aug. 28, while mine is July 28, so I can remember. She will be 65. Come alive!

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or friend him on Facebook. Curt?s stories are also read at 106.3 FM in Farmington.