ONE OF THE OLD FOLKS

I used to make fun of my dad’s age…saying with loving youthful vigor

“How come you’re getting shorter but your ears and nose are so much bigger?”

 

Oh, Dad would try to make a witty comeback…but usually it would bomb.

(makes me wonder where I got my talent for humor…must have been from Mom!)

 

So I guess it’s only payback or Karma…now that I’m one of the older folks

that I must listen to my children and grandchildren as they crack their old man jokes.

 

Like when they remind me how I’m over the hill and how I’m beginning to shrink…

And when they mention how my nose and ears are bigger…

I wonder…do they know they’re not as funny as they think?

 

They laugh when I say, “It’s nine o’clock…time to go to bed.”

and God forbid I ask, “Have you seen my glasses?” 

when they’re perched upon my head. 

 

They joke about my lack of hair and when their laughter clears

they remind me if I’m looking for hair…check inside my nose and ears.

 

In truth…I am quite content with getting older…I don’t think it is unfair.

I don’t mind a bit that I am bald because I never have to comb my hair.

 

And with my nose the size of a cucumber and two enormous ears

there are so many delicious aromas I smell…

so many wonderful sounds I hear.

 

Besides growing old is a part of life…we’re all growing older every day

and how wonderful it is to pause…and laugh at myself along the way.

 

I also smile as I sit back listening to these old jokes unfold…

knowing what a wonderful journey it’s been getting to be this old…

 

Finally, I have the satisfaction of knowing as joke after joke they tell bomb…

 

they didn’t get their talent for humor from me…(must have got it from their mom).


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