May 30, 2014 5 min read

…Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

It’s one of the days of the year that I look forward to, not just because it’s part of a long holiday weekend, or because it’s the official kickoff of the summer season or even because the weekend brings together two of my all-time favorite things — grilling and warmer weather.

No, I look forward to Memorial Day each year because of the Messenger’s commitment to covering the many different patriotic services that are held throughout the county in honor of the men and women who have served — and in some cases died for — this great country.

The Messenger was honored to have been able to cover these special events, and our staff was honored to have witnessed the patriotism displayed by those who participated in the programs, and by those who attended them.

I’ve said this before, and I will say it again: To the men and women who have served and/or are currently serving our country, and to the families and loved ones of our American soldiers, we are proud of you and we salute you each and every day, not just on Memorial Day.

And to those men and women who lost their lives serving our great country and gave the ultimate sacrifice, our thoughts, hearts, and prayers are always with you and your families.

Look for our exclusive Memorial Day coverage on the front page of this very issue.

And speaking of the weekend, I was lucky to spend a couple of wonderful days with family and friends at Watauga Lake in Tennessee, where my wife Crystal, my son Bryson and I were able to get away for some much-needed rest and relaxation.

One of the biggest highlights for me was when I had the opportunity to do some “tubing” on the lake, where I climbed onto a giant inner tube while a speedboat whipped me around the lake. It was a lot of fun, although I must admit that I didn’t know what frightened me more: Trying to climb my clumsy, heavy frame onto the inner tube without drowning, or hanging on for dear life during the insane ride while screaming like a little girl.

(By the way, I hope that if any of my family members videotaped this hilarity, I would greatly appreciate them deleting the footage. Believe me, the last thing I need is to become a hit on Youtube.)

Anyway, I was grateful for the opportunity to spend some quality time with my family, and I cannot wait to return one day to the beautiful, picturesque Watauga Lake.

It is my sincerest hope that everyone’s Memorial Day weekend was as memorable as mine…

…Well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you: If I appear to be a tad grumpy in my column over the next couple of weeks, it’s because I am getting ready to “celebrate” (a nice way of saying “grudgingly put up with”) my 46th birthday.

And as I ponder the ramifications of this day, I can most certainly say that I am not looking forward to being another year older.

You know, it seems that with every birthday that groans by, the days seem to get longer, the gray hairs continue to grow in at an alarming rate, the cold weather seems to turn colder and the health issues seem to occur with more frequency.

And the worst part is, my age becomes more and more of a factor each time I visit a doctor.

No matter what I’m there for, I am almost always reminded that I need to take it easier and slower and that I’m “not as young as I used to be.”

(I’ve often thought about storming right out of the examination room when I hear that, but then I realize how silly I’d look leaving the premises with nothing on except for one of those demeaning — and very drafty — hospital gowns.)

I know, I know, I’m sounding like a big “drama queen” here, and I’m sure I am going to get at least a few letters from readers informing me that 46 isn’t old, and I should stop feeling sorry for myself.

And I know that turning 46 (ugh) is not the end of the world, and that there are many things for which I should be grateful — for example, decent health, a loving family, a terrific wife, a beautiful son, good friends and a job that I love — but it doesn’t change the fact that I hate getting older.

At least I have my friends, my family, my wife and especially my video games to help me feel younger than I really am.

But still, I can’t help but feel old and sad when I think of my birthday, especially when my curiosity got the better of me and I Googled the average life expectancy of a U.S. male, and I discovered that the number is 79.8 years, which means I am not in the middle of the hill, I am officially heading down the other side.

So, here’s a friendly warning: If you see me in public around June 2, please think twice about wishing me a Happy Birthday, and if you’re brave enough to do so, please don’t be offended if I respond with a weary grumble and a cross between a look of agony and a scowl…