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.)