Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
Originally posted 2/25/26
I’ve been dreading this week for a bunch of years. I’m turning 80, meaning I’m an octogenarian, in other words, damn old, on Thursday. How in the hell did that happen? I don’t know, I don’t remember lots of it, but I’m glad I stuck around for so many sunrises and sunsets, the many yesterdays, today, and I’m looking forward to a lot of tomorrows.
Cowboy and I wrote a book, Loving Again: A Guide to Online Dating for Widows and Widowers. We used a quote by American journalist, Hunter S. Thompson, who put it perfectly:
Life should not be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke
thoroughly used up, worn out,
and loudly proclaiming.
Wow! What a Ride.
I’m happy to say, my life has been a ride. I am a Marine and proud of my service. Two great husbands (not at the same time, lest you forgot), two great children and their spouses, Robert’s two wonderful children and their spouses, four amazing grandchildren plus seven more belonging to Robert, some with spouses, and then the greats, little guys, but now a part of me, joined by a whole lot of relatives and friends. I thank everyone for your part in my 80 years of adventures. Blessed.
I’ve visited all 50 states and lived in a half dozen of them. I’ve walked around on all seven continents and about 30 countries. I’ve ridden a camel, elephant and got bucked off a dolphin. I taught high school for 19 years and administered schools for another 14. Holy cow, that’s a lot of kids Then I went to prison, as a staff member, not behind the cold gray bars.
Cowboy and I are headed out again, this time taking a boat ride around South America. Along the way, we’re gonna dance the Tango, see a couple penguin colonies, and Cowboy says, “Miss Gail, you are gonna ride a horse.” I have ridden a horse a few times, mostly when I was in my teens, which, by my calculation, was about 65 years ago, so I am having Cowboy take a mental incompetency test. As my mother often said, “We’ll see about that.” If it happens, we will have pictures, if I fall off and break my bean, be sure to scold Cowboy. He tells me these Argentine horses are short, gentle, and the Argentine Pompas ground is soft with a nice grass cushion. If I take a nose dive, maybe one of those cute gauchos will help me. Ooh la la! Cowboy, better be careful of what you wish for.
