Old Gents, Still Gabbing

This week back in Fresno — several months after we moved to the Central Coast in retirement — has been busy, indeed. Some of what made it hectic were great get-back-togethers with old friends Al and Bud.

Al is one of the people I’ve known longest. We go way back to Hamilton Junior High days here in Fresno. We’ve seen lots of things, done lots of things and are now growing old far too fast. As such, we don’t see or do nearly as many things as we used to. But we can still talk, and talk we did, twice, during lengthy sessions over two lunches this week at Costco. Yes, Costco. You see, that particular business has the best inexpensive lunch anywhere — $1.50 (plus tax) for a giant Polish dog or hot dog plus drink (refills free). You can’t beat that.

So Al and I sat there at Costco — as we have so many times in the past — chewing the fat, literally and figuratively. Both times — the latest being today, Friday — we talked a bit about politics and a whole lot about that topic old guys often talk about — getting older. Yes, I addressed that issue in my earlier blog this week, but I can’t help it if that’s just what old guys palaver about. Those of you who are of our vintage will understand this on-going “old age” discussion — and those of you (if there are any) who are younger — well, you’ll find out soon enough.

What Al and I do a lot of, these days, is go to doctors’ appointments. That’s just the way it is. We also talk a lot — about going to doctors’ appointments. Discussing that is one way of navigating through the unfamiliar territory we find ourselves in — the Territory of Aging. Somehow, it makes us feel better to know that we are not alone in making that journey.

Al and I also talked about the upcoming 50th anniversary reunion of our high school class here in Fresno. For differing reasons, we won’t be attending. I’ve never gone to one of those because, frankly, I didn’t like high school much, so why would I enjoy going back now?

We also discussed our summer travel plans and promised we’d try to stay healthy until we can meet up in Fresno again.

From Costco, I drove to the same Starbucks in northeast Fresno where my buddy Bud (yes, the “other picture” on this blogsite) and I had gotten together on Monday. Since only four days had passed since our first coffee, you might think we had little to discuss. Nah. We barely had time to get started, because Bud had to attend a boxing weigh-in this afternoon. (That’s a convoluted story, one I hope he tells in a blog.)

But during the hour we had, we conversed, as only old-timers can, about “the state of things” such as politics (which we both covered as reporters), TV news (we’ve both worked there) and the #MeToo movement (which we never dealt with during “our time”). We agreed that our political system is dysfunctional, that TV news is in the pits, and that #MeToo — while long overdue — also has the danger of destroying careers unjustly. No, we’re not saying that the men who have been outed for wrong-doing should not have been — they appear to have acted terribly and deserve punishment. But — it looks as if the very act of accusing someone of wrong-doing — is enough to destroy careers. No proof required. Revenge is in the air. We don’t know how this will shake out, but the shaking is, in some cases, amazing to see.

Of course, Bud and I also discussed the states of our health. And I noted that his “lunch” — which he consumed in front of me — consisted of a spongy, sugary concoction that looked like, yes, a sweet sponge. He said it tasted quite good. Well, at least he’s eating well. Of course, for my lunch earlier at Costco, I had that Polish dog and soft drink I referred to earlier.

After Bud and I parted, I felt a certain need, for some reason, for a sugary “fix” myself. So I walked, briskly and in a healthy way, a few feet to a nearby donut shop. Frankly, the offerings there were not exceptional, but I found myself buying three of them, anyway. I had the discipline (developed over many decades) to wait until I got back “home” (our son’s condo, where we’re staying this week) to devour two of them. Unexceptional, indeed. But oh-so-tasty.

Our week-long excursion back to Fresno ends tomorrow, when we return to the Central Coast and, shortly afterward, head to the Heart of the American Heartland. It’s been a fine week to catch up with old buddies and with old times, and I’m looking forward to a return trip here.

But, gosh, TV news is bad around these parts. And, gosh, that third donut is just a few feet away, in the kitchen. I think it’s calling my name.