Ringo Starr Knows Where It’s At

Yeah, Another Blogger

There I was a couple of Thursday afternoons ago, manning the information desk at a medical office building not far from my home. I’ve put in several thousands of hours at this volunteer job since 2010. It gets me out of the house and into the real world and keeps me on my toes. That’s why I like it.

Halfway through my shift, in wandered a white-haired guy with his wife. He looked a bit like Santa Claus . . .Ā  chubby and jolly. I don’t know which one of them had an appointment. In any case, I could tell they were having trouble figuring out where the appropriate doctor’s office was. I got their attention and asked if they needed any help. Santa strolled closer to me.

“I’m lost,” he said, “which isn’t unusual for me.”

He gave me the name of the doctor, and I told him which suite to go to. But he didn’t walk away. Instead, he gazed at me, curiosity pouring from his eyes, and continued the conversation.

“We’re about the same vintage, aren’t we?” he asked.

Huh? I sure as hell wasn’t expecting those words to come out of his mouth.

“Well, maybe,” I replied.

“I’m 80. Will be 81 in October,” he told me.

“I’m not quite there,” I said.

He gazed at my visage for a second or two more, and then, joined by his spouse, headed to the elevator. Just before stepping in, he delivered parting words with pride and amazement in his voice: “I’m still here,” he said. Meaning, he hadn’t become worm-food yet.

“Yeah, we’re hanging in there,” was my reply.

Holy crap! Had it come to that? Was it possible that I, a mere lad of 75, could pass for an 80-year-old? Man, I’ve been thinking about this ever since the encounter, and I’m stunned.

Sure, for a nice big bunch of years I’ve realized that no lady, unless she’s nearsighted as hell, ever again will give me the eye. I might be 50 years old in my mind, but the wrinkles and bumps on my frigging face tell a far different story. 80, though? Shit, unfortunately Santa probably was right. There’s a real chance that plenty of people peg me for an octogenarian. Excuse me for a moment . . . I feel a cry coming on.

I’m back. And feeling better. I guess. Yup, any way you look at it, I’m old. But when you get right down to it, that doesn’t matter too much. What does matter is this, and it’s not as though I’m the first person ever to have these thoughts: Life is fleeting. It goes by so fast it can take your breath away. So, whatever your age, a good policy to follow is to keep on truckin’, doing that which brings you pleasure, for as long as your health allows you to. Needless to say, loving, helping and supporting others should be part of the equation too. And finding new avenues and vistas to explore ain’t a bad idea either. In fact, it’s a very good one. Might as well live life fully till the Grim F*cking Reaper decides to pay you a visit, right? You bet.

To wind up the proceedings, and to add some emphasis to what I just said, let’s turn to the one and only Ringo Starr. He’s 83, which is a shocking truth. But his advanced age doesn’t get him down. He’s full of pep, touring and recording like crazy. And he has his head on very straight. He was quoted as saying the following in an interview published last month in People magazine: “Nothing makes me feel old. In my head, I’m 27. Wisdom’s a heavy word. [Getting older] is what happens, and you try and keep yourself busy.”

I’ve always thought that Ringo is cool as can be. He’s smart and funny and gives off really good vibes. It doesn’t surprise me that he plans to keep on rocking until he can rock no more. In my own modest way, I intend to do the same.

146 thoughts on “Ringo Starr Knows Where It’s At”

  1. Silver Screenings July 30, 2023 / 7:28 pm

    Yikes! That would sting, being mistaken for an octogenarian. But, like you said, we should all follow Ringo’s example…

    …and your example, too, because you always write about truly interesting things.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. notesoflifeuk July 31, 2023 / 4:00 pm

    This reminds me of my Grandad… He was in his nineties and yet would still talk about “the old guy” up the road, who I’m pretty sure was a decade or two younger than Grandad! šŸ˜€

    Liked by 3 people

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  3. juliefj1 July 31, 2023 / 11:07 pm

    Sometimes I get a bit freaked out when I think about aging. But we will never be as young as we are today, right? And yes, you’re right: we have to keep on rockin’ and doing what feeds our soul.

    Liked by 3 people

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 1, 2023 / 6:55 am

      “Sometimes I get a bit freaked out when I think about aging.” — me too. It seems very strange and is hard to believe. But, in the end, there’s no holding back the hands of time.

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  5. The Wheelchair Teen August 1, 2023 / 7:47 am

    Yeah, I think society puts more emphasis on age than really needs to be. We decide what we want to do and what we can do with our bodies – not our age. I’ve started thinking about this more as I was a teenager not too long ago but now that I’ve hit my twenties – everyone thinks I’m much older. People have been mistaking my older sister as a younger sister because they think I look older. I don’t know, it might just be because everyone expects people who use wheelchairs to be old but it doesn’t really matter what they think.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 1, 2023 / 11:12 am

      Hi. Youā€™ve made excellent points, such as this one: ā€œWe decide what we want to do and what we can do with our bodies ā€“ not our age.ā€

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  6. Linda Pearce Griffin August 1, 2023 / 9:29 pm

    Ringo is 83???!!!! Oh, my! Well, he’s the coolest 83 year old I’ve ever seen. Go Ringo. And you, too, Neal. Rock on.

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  7. estricsek August 2, 2023 / 7:40 am

    Wonderful story Neil. When I think what my parents and grandparents did at the age I am now, and what I do at the age I am now, it is startling how much more active each generation is than the prior one. I keep refusing to act my ageā€¦ but I am old enough to not worry about some teacher making memmove my desk into the coat closet for the dayā€¦. I volunteer also, taking older adults who can no longer drive to appointments with doctors or hairdressers, to movies or lunch with their friends. Iā€™ve met some amazing people with interesting stories to tell. One of the people I drive to appointments is a retired opera singer. On my first visit with her, I told her my wife and in love the opera, Carmina Burana. She began to sing ā€œO Fortunaā€. I was blown away. Before the next ride, which would be a longer trip, I made a playlist of opera tunes. The first piece on the list is ā€œThe Flower Duetā€ from the opera Lakme. She asked me to play it twice so she could sing both parts of the duet. It is a lovely song, and she has a lovely voice. I was in tears because she sang it so beautifully and with so much heart and feeling. She is 87 and nearly blind, but does whatever she can to remain active. So many positive role models for us. I am sorry for rambling. I hope all is well. Great story Neil. Best wishes.

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  8. Jeff the Chef August 2, 2023 / 10:53 am

    This is exactly how it happens. You don’t age day by day, but by unexepected revelations. I remember the first time some kid on the street said, “Excuse me, sir, …”. I got a quite a bit older just then. My job brings me into regular contact with yound children, who on occasion will accidentally call me “papa,” which is what they call their grandfather. Bam! I can feel myself age a decade every time that happens.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 2, 2023 / 12:39 pm

      Hi Jeff. Yeah, the “sir” thing is kind of disconcerting. The first time it happened to me was, I guess, ten to 15 years ago. Now it happens pretty commonly. In fact, someone called me “sir” today at the supermarket.

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  9. J P August 3, 2023 / 6:20 am

    I am conflicted about this topic. On one hand, I am inclined to join in with my boomer brethren and rail against cruel age. On the other, I long for an earlier era when it was OK to become an “old man”, who had exchanged vitality for wisdom. All I know for sure is that we are born, we mature, we age and we die. I am working on making peace with that reality.

    I will add my congratulations on attaining 80, and doing so with your health largely intact.!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 3, 2023 / 9:24 am

      Morning. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever make peace with the reality that I have an expiration date. Of course, I know it’s true. But it’s hard to accept.

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  10. Ray Van Horn, Jr. August 3, 2023 / 7:39 am

    I thought this was leading to Ringo being the gentleman who approached you and I would’ve lied being 85 just to have that moment! You’re not old; you are more world savvy than a large percentage of the world population.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 3, 2023 / 9:29 am

      Hi, and thanks for stopping by. Your comments made me think about the following: Celebrities, like Ringo, have medical appointments just like everyone else. I wonder if they are seen by doctors privately in off-hours, or if they wait in reception areas like everyone else.

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  11. chattykerry August 3, 2023 / 5:24 pm

    You are only as old as your followers believe you are. I would have guessed 45 – maybe? šŸ˜‰

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. rkrontheroad August 4, 2023 / 2:47 pm

    Great post, it has me thinking… I feel like I’m in my 40s, but since I’ve let my salt-and-pepper gray hair grow in, some people seem to treat me as “old.” I don’t relate to that!

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Helene Brennan August 12, 2023 / 4:03 pm

    I have to admit I’m really disappointed that the Santa guy didn’t turn out to be Ringo!

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