A year older and that's what you get when Wu Tang raised you...:)

Sometimes I think that there's a lot of strange things that go through my mind. Most of it happens on the short runs I take around Lake Padden.

Like, on a recent run, I couldn't help but wonder what you'd REALLY get if Wu Tang raised you. I'd imagine that by a very young age you'd well versed in rolling the perfect joint, quoting Bruce Lee movies and hitting up the studio to drop 16 bars like nobody's business. Well, maybe I just better be thankful for good ole mom and dad.

Some people have said my blog lacks a REAL look into my personal experiences and that I don't get real enough and talk about the stuff people REALLY wanna hear. Well, it's about to get REALLY REAL people. Are you ready?

This year I got a year older and my body is letting me know it. When I turned 30 a few years back, my hair started thinning and I realized my youth was slowly fading. Since I don't have 10 grand to give Mr. Bosley to plug me with that perfect head of hair you see in the commercials, I pretty much just deal with it. It's part of life. You wear your hair a little different, invest in some hats and call it good.

But as I age ever closer to that ominous mid-life 40th birthday, my body is REALLY getting back at me for all that I put it through the last 36 years. It's letting me know loud and clear that I'm no spring chicken. I'm not sure how to put it exactly, but, this year I bought my very first tube of hemorrhoidal cream. Ya, the stress of opening my business to the public again apparently threw my body into a tailspin and I found myself at the Haggen in search of the magical ointment that would ease my pain.

Of course, one just doesn't go into the Haggen and buy hemorrhoidal cream. Naturally, I picked up a grapefruit, hot dogs, some hot dog buns (fitting, right?) and a bag of chips to bring to the counter and disguise my first mid-life medical purchase. There was a cute girl in check stand one, but for the first time in my life I opted for the older gal in check stand 2 who would be more understanding to the plight of the middle aged man.

Ya, life has gotten rather complicated lately. It's getting nasty and there's no stoppin' it. My youth is but a memory. I now have two mortgages that need to be paid every month. My niece and nephews are now driving cars and dating. Hell, I even have divorced friends starting their second families. I'm still guilty of living vicariously through the young people who enter my life, but my body definitely is no longer pulling any punches when it comes to those middle-aged reminders. I guess I should just embrace it and go along for the ride.

I suppose that I could always ask: What would Wu-Tang do? But I'm sure I'd be better off just giving mom and dad a call. Of course, something tells me Method Man just might have some insight into a quick hemorrhoidal cure. He might even keep it in the dollar box he keeps on top of the fridge. Just in case he needs to make a trip to the Haggen for "hot dog buns"...:)