Saturday, January 31, 2009

Old as Dirt

I opened up a web page earlier and saw a picture of a woman, who according to her birth certificate, is now the ripe old age of 128.

Here is the picture:


The timing of this discovery couldn't have been any better, because what I really wanted to post about is my older, much much older, brother Gene.

Yes today, 1/31/2009 marks his entry into the half century club. Hard to believe someone as young as me could have someone as old and decrepit as Gene for a brother I know, but alas it's true.

Found a couple of facts from 1959:

Average Cost of new house $12,400

Average Yearly Wages $5,010

Cost of a gallon of Gas 25 cents

Average Cost of a new car $2,200

Movie Ticket $1.00

Loaf of Bread 20 cents

Fidel Castro comes to power in Cuba after Revolution with the first communist state in the west

Alaska becomes the 49th State of the United States

Hawaii becomes the 50th State of the United States

The last musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein "The Sound of Music" opens on Broadway

Bonanza premieres on NBC, the first weekly television series broadcast completely in color

Etch A Sketch by Arthur Grandjean


I'll be heading down to go see the old man next week. He and I are going to put the siding up on his new shop (aka The Man Cave) I'll probably have to call and remind him I'm coming down there now that senility has likely set in.

Here's a age appropriate list for Gene I saw as well:

  • Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

  • Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

  • You sing along with elevator music.

  • Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

  • You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.

  • People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"

  • People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

  • Things you buy now won't wear out.

  • You can live without sex but not without glasses.

  • You enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.

  • You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

  • You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.

  • There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

  • You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

  • You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

  • Your eyes won't get much worse.

  • Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

  • Well, that's about all the abuse I have for now dear brother.

    Happy Birthday ya old fart!


    (If you have a minute go by and wish the old geezer a happy 50th. You can find him here.)

    20 comments:

    Jeni said...

    Having been over to Gene's place earlier today, I shouldn't be at all surprised to read t his lovely tribute to him, from you. The camaraderie that is always shown between you two guys is something I really enjoy reading. So nice to see two brothers who love each other so much. Yeah, I know you both do as neither of you would toss all that sarcasm around at each other if you didn't!
    Good post for a birthday present for Gene though.

    Anonymous said...

    two words for you Bite me!

    Dana said...

    I think Gene just flew by his midlife crises and jumped in to his 2/3rd life crises!

    Jeff B said...

    Jeni- It's brotherly love at its finest!

    Anon- Hmmmm, did I touch a nerve?

    Dana- Bwahahahaha

    Mel said...

    Can you feel the love!

    *snickering*

    <-- will be borrowing some of this for himself who began another year on the same day as your loving brother

    <-- much younger than himself and making that a non-issue

    HAHAHAHAHA
    I sooooooooooo lie!

    Roan said...

    Classic! I may need to borrow some of your research for my bro's next birthday.

    Gene Bach said...

    Dear Jeff;
    You suck.
    Love Gene.


    You're going to enjoy sleeping outside next weekend.

    buffalodick said...

    Little known fact: You become invisible after 50... at least people treat you like you are...

    buffalodick said...

    Little known fact: You become invisible after 50... at least people treat you like you are...

    buffalodick said...

    You also start repeating yourself..

    Jeff B said...

    Mel- A Happy Birthday to Himself as well. Ain't it great being the younger one?

    BJ- Borrow away. I Googled 1959 and came up with plenty to pick and choose from.

    Gene- I'll be sure to pack my long underwear!

    Buffalo- Nice recovery on that one.

    Akelamalu said...

    LOL he's gonna whup you for that! :)

    j said...

    You two are such turkeys! Makes for good blog fodder :)

    Jeff B said...

    Akelamalu- He's gonna have to catch me first, and at his age that will be hard to do!

    Bwahahahaha (cracking myself up)

    Jennifer- Actually, I like to think of myself as the beautiful swan and Gene as the ugly duckling, but I suppose turkeys is a good description too.

    Desert Songbird said...

    You actually had the nerve to write, The last musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein "The Sound of Music" opens on Broadway on your blog? I thought you were allergic to that musical and the very words made you break out in hives?

    Jules~ said...

    Yikes am I in trouble. At 38 years old I can already relate to a couple of these.

    katherine. said...
    This comment has been removed by the author.
    katherine. said...

    NONE of this is TRUE.

    Fifty is young.

    Fifty is just the beginning of adulthood...where the children are grown...and you can enjoy life to its fullest.

    1959 was a VERY good year.
    laughing....

    Travis Cody said...

    A-ha! Now comes more truth as to your aversion to The Sound of Music.

    nitebyrd said...

    My nephew is going to be 50 next month, I should send this blog to him! LOL

    Hope he has a happy birthday in spite of you! :)