[74-911]

In reality (to me anyway), most of the above stuff (of which I relate to much of) is minor detail. Fifty years ago this month I arrived at Randolph AFB as a 22 YO E-2 fresh out of programming school and was met by my sponsor, a 32 YO E-7. Despite our age difference we became very close friends with he and his wife and still try to have lunch with them when we return to San Antonio and we (used to anyway) reminisced about the good old days.

A couple of years ago we noticed he said he just couldn't remember some of the stuff we used to talk about and it is worse each time we see them. Tests indicate he is developing Alzheimers. He calls me (or I call him pretty regularly) just to talk. When he calls he is usually really depressed about his memory loss (and the fact that he has had to give up playing golf 3 days a week) and he thinks it is progressing more rapidly now. Otherwise he is in good health. Fortunately his wife is in very good health and very active and watches over him.

That is my biggest fear of growing old, that or a massive stroke which put another friend of over 60 years in a wheel chair last year.

Sorry to be such a downer .... but these are 2 of the things that can really suck about getting old...