Much to my amazement, I turn 66 years old today. I never thought I’d be this young when I got this old. 

There was a time after turning 60 when I was reluctant to reveal my age. I didn’t want people to think I was, you know, TOO old. Now it’s a badge of honor. 

I’m lucky, first of all. Too many of my peers didn’t make it to 66. Others are ailing, infirm and unable to enjoy life like they used to. But I also have many friends in their 70s, 80s and beyond who are hale, hearty and hard to keep up with. 

I’m blessed with good health. Most every day, I run, swim or do yoga. Running is key to my end-of-life planning. That is, I plan to drop dead running at a ripe old age. Go straight from running to lying on the ground. No stop for nursing homes, feeding tubes or assisted living. 

That could be a while off. My 80-something mother is enjoying her second marriage and travelling all over. Her mother lived to be 107. 

I’m blessed with my family, friends and colleagues. Thanks to our children, I have young friends who tolerate me, teach me new things and constantly refresh my outlook. 

I have work I love doing, a blog I love writing and clients I love working with. As Warren Buffett says, I tap-dance to work every day. 

Also this spring, I celebrate 50 years of working. When I turned 16 in 1965, my father sent me to see Woodrow Price, managing editor of The N&O. Woodrow gave me a job as a copyboy, kind of a newsroom go-fer. I stayed at the paper for 10 years. 

Nearly 40 years ago, on January 1, 1976, I went to work for Jim Hunt in his first campaign for Governor. That turned out well. 

Thirty years ago, in January 1985, I opened my own consulting firm. Still going strong.

 So I have much to celebrate today. Cut the cake!