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I am a happy old man now that I've learned the great lesson of life, which is Gratitude For All Things, even the trashy things, which hand a man a challenge: how long does an 84-year-old guy plan to relive the injuries of long ago? And the correct answer is: not one more minute. It's over and done.
As Emerson wrote, "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Own the day. Do your best. Cultivate gratitude, give thanks continuously. Finish the day and be done with it." If you memorize those words, my little chickabiddies, you will have accomplished something memorable today.
This does not mean that I accept Amtrak's ridiculous procedure for buying a train ticket online that is almost as complex as applying for a home mortgage. It eats time and an old man is very aware of time wasted. My clock is running faster than it used to. I ordered tickets to the New York Philharmonic and the Phil already had all of my credit cards in its file so I just had to click on one, it knew my address, DOB, email, blah blah blah. And when there was a glitch and I texted the Phil, a woman called me who was amiable, spoke clear English, grasped the problem and solved it, and said, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Yes, get a job at Amtrak.
We're getting older, people. My generation marched in the street singing that we would overcome, all very noble for college students enjoying a generous postwar economy that our Depression-era parents had fought for as well as defeating the formidable forces of fascism on two continents, only to see their beloved children grow long hair and wear beads and serapes and T-shirts with dopey slogans and take hallucinogens to make themselves stupid so they could write songs and poems that nobody could remember fifteen minutes later, but never mind that, my dears — it's in the murky past, and meanwhile one thing will not be overcome by you and that is Father Time. He has got hold of your ankle and he is not letting go. It's time to make today the best day of the year. And then tomorrow too.
If I didn't say so enough, I'll say it again:
Be grateful.
Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. His latest book is "Cheerfulness". Buy it at a 54% discount! by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR.