About not feeling old

I don't think old, I still appreciate a well-turned ankle, to use an old phrase. ('Cute bum', to use my terminology, 'cool frame' for today?) But every now and then I get hornswoggled. When I think I am playing more modern music I find there are people in the audience who think Elton John and Billy Joel are from the last century, which they are, like me.

Here is what clobbered me today. In an effort to keep up with eReaders I am installing 'calibre', a program to create or convert eBooks. I am happily reading along until I come to this:

A great example of this is the old books people read back in the 90's on their PDAs.

Whoa! What do you mean, back in the 90's? That is just yesterday, earlier today, to me. I only found out what PDA meant about a year ago so steady on, there. Anyway, I am convinced I will soon have converted all the text files on my "English Lit." CD to ebook form and then I can enjoy reading them on my iPad. So there.

Bob, time traveller from the last century.

Bouquet for Ontario Ministry of Transport

I passed my old geezer's driving test today. No road test, they know we old geezers have the skills, but written and eyesight tests and a subtle general (mental) evaluation at a seminar for forty of us old fogies. From now on I have to pass this every two years. I must say the quality of the employees at the Ont Ministry of Transportation surprised me, efficient, friendly, concerned, not at all the cold uncaring civil servant bogieman we all dread to meet.

Self-assessment was one of the watchwords they pushed so no more long-distance driving for me. City traffic I can handle. Compared with Europe, Mississauga roads are well laid out and full of gentle folk and well-behaved motor-cyclists.

Bob, time-traveller from last century.

When is it time to quit?

I have seen video of great artists performing when they were really past it, disappointing and somewhat upsetting when their previous great performances are still fresh in your memory. So I try to monitor myself. Voice: not too bad, appearance: not bad considering extreme age, piano technique: not as slick as it was, memory: senior moments occur, comedy: good! stage movement: lousy. So I had a committee meeting with myself and decided if impresarios still want to pay me, if anybody still wants to see me, I would still perform. So I am back in Toronto and not retired yet. My next gig is at the Nexus Piano Bar in Brampton, it is a particularly good restaurant in my humble opinion.

http://www.nexusfinefoods.com/

Fine dining at a reasonable price, nice ambience, a large saltwater aquarium and a grand piano, it's hard to beat the Nexus Piano Bar. I'll be playing there Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week, 6:30 to 9:30PM.

I would be tickled pink if you come.