Ok this is weird.  I woke up in the night not having any idea of the time.  I turned on the tv and someone was talking about my favourite subject.  My favourite subject is how we need each other.  Old and young we do not function at our best independently.
It is something I really like about N3C.  Ok there are a number of older people, but the number of younger people is growing.  What I like is hearing some of the younger ones say, “I like coming here because I need the wisdom that can be found in older people.”
Ok it is not guaranteed but I will never find something if I am not in the place where it is to be found.  Alright in years I could be considered one of the older people, but you know what I mean.  I really like something said which was something like, “aging is inevitable, getting older is optional.”
He was talking about something we were discussing last night.  That was, basically habits are the product of reinforced behaviour.    That is, the more I think old, the older I will act.  Something said was “now is the best age.”  Often, I wish I was older or younger but the truth is “now is what I have”.  Regretting missing something is a waste of time.  As long as I have now there is still time to make it happen.  Maybe as Richard Scolyer said I should leap in rather than lean in.
Ok I am a sucker for a Pixar movie.  There are a number of them I love.  I will never forget the fish in the tank planning their escape.  They wanted to make the tank as dirty as possible so it would need cleaning.  That was when they planned to escape (that night though the owner got a new cleaner which made the environment pristine).  The protagonist gave advise I do not think is appropriate for humans but as a fish wating to escape their tank, I can see why he recommended everyone “think dirty thoughts.”
The reason I found that unforgettable is I really believe how we think determines our actions and a person’s actions says a lot about the way they think.
For me it is important to think young.  Not ignoring the reality of an aging body but knowing that as I am still here there is stuff to achieve.  Age may weary but it need not stop.

I have felt the last couple of weeks have been weird.  I have seen the passing of what I consider two very decent men in Neale Daniher from MND and former Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer from an aggressive brain cancer.
Added to that, have been two things that occurred yesterday that reinforced my thinking that we are living in a time of transition.  Firstly Israel and Iran are at it again and the ABC had a story about AI.  The interesting thing about AI was the acknowledgement of how dangerous it potentially is.
No one from politicians to Tech workers refused to acknowledge how useful it is but it was incredibly obvious that its development was out of control and rich developers were afraid to let go in case another got the riches they wanted.  Greed would seem to be the motive for destruction.  Power is in the hands of the self-seeking.  I cannot help but feel we are on the verge of what Barry McGuire sang about.  “The Eve of Destruction.”
But it is the decency that inspires.  I love how Richard Scolyer encouraged us not to just “lean in” but to “leap in.”
He penned a final good-bye to be published at his passing.  I include it in part.
“I pen this letter as a final goodbye to all those I have had the immense privilege of loving, sharing life's adventures with, working alongside and meeting during what can only be described as a life filled with happiness, optimism, opportunity and passion.
My final message to all Australians is to say thankyou for your outpouring of love and support for me and my family.
….. you've laughed with me, cried with me, and provided encouragement and support to keep going just when I needed it most.
I haven't sugar coated my journey and I sincerely thank you for allowing me the space and opportunity to share it with you, warts and all.
I hope I have in some small way made the road ahead easier and smoother for others.
If my legacy was to continue beyond these words, I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who "gave it a crack", and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love and compassion.”

This first part was written yesterday.  I did not get back to finish it.  I was going to post what I had and took a picture for it.  But that picture did not come through before I left for breakfast…
Here I am writing super early.  It is just before 3am and Merril and her sister are catching a flight to North Queensland at around 6am.  They will be leaving for the airport shortly.
We set up a bed in our shed which I slept in last night.  It was a bit of an experiment as far as I was concerned but I did want to see what this was like.  I would say this is a good place to sleep. 
But I did wake up fairly early as I did not want to miss saying goodbye. Hence here I am.  That explains why I am wring so early. 
I did however go back to bed after Merril and her sister left.  After I got up I went for breaky with a mate.  As per usual I enjoyed the catch up.  We only went just up the road and I was back in time to have coffee with another mate.
It turned out he could not make it at the agreed time as he had double booked.  That get together has been changed to today.  I then spent a good bit of the day checking my eyelids for leaks.  There were not any.
It was my designated day off and I ended up spending it quietly.  There was stuff I could have done but I decided I was going to keep a low profile.   I did what I like to do and put all I knew I had to do into one day rather than spread it over two. 
So today I will set up a place for a get together.  Merril and I often do it together of a Friday and I will continue the tradition while she is away.  I also need to send out a newsletter telling those that come that our Menzone is on Saturday week.  I normally send out a newsletter one week and a couple of reminder emails the week following.  So I will do the newsletter today.  I am also writing minutes of a meeting we had not long ago.
Those things need to be done.  I will also get together with a mate for coffee.  The plan is set.  See what happens.