Harry and I served on the same ship once upon a time. The USS Johnnie Hutchins out on the East Coast. He reads my weekly column faithfully there in Hoosac Falls in upstate New York. I guess Harry still goes to church just across the line over in Vermont — about 8 or 9 miles from his house. His pastor up there is named Mary Beth. She, too, reads my stories in the Allen Advocate, and I added her name to my list. Thanks Rev. Mary Beth. Heck, I should make her my Vermont correspondent. Not many other Advocate customers up that way, but welcome.

Some time ago a little girl looked me over at my church and said, “You’re old, aren’t you?” I had to confess that, indeed, I was. At 90 it’s hard to argue otherwise. That’s one reason I keep in close touch with a lot of my former friends who, over the past 5 years, seem to be dying off like flies.

One of my favorite Oklahoman’s, Will Rogers, was born the same year as me, 1935. That is, for sure, a long time ago. But he had this to say about getting old.

1. When you are dissatisfied and want to go back to your youth, think of algebra, 2. Eventually you reach a point where you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

3. The older we get the fewer things seem to be worth waiting in line for.

4. Some people try to turn back their odometers, not me, I want people to know why I look this way.

5. You know you’re getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

6. There are 3 kinds of men. The ones who learn by reading. The ones that learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

7. G o o d judgement comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgement.

8. If you’re riding ahead of the herd, take a look back now and then to see if it’s still there.

9. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you’re full of Bull, keep your mouth shut.

Have a great weekend and be sure and attend your church this weekend.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com