Lair Davis (Our Man in Costa Rica)

Not all adventure occurs when you are young. Retirement also can be an adventure — a little scary perhaps but wonderful, both anxiety-provoking and exciting. I have begun the adventure of making my “gay golden years” glitter. There is not much support out there for gays in their senior years (mature years? prime time? Oh, please! Who are we kidding? Old! I can deal with it, so would everyone please stop trying to come up with a non-offensive word for me! The word “senior” works just fine. Just like a senior in high school, I am a senior in LIFE school.) I am still here! I am retiring! I am celebrating! Every Friday...I’m gonna send Annie a column to share with readers. Enjoy. Please feel free to interact.

December 31, 2004

A Good, Solid Wish

The day after Christmas, a major earthquake struck southeast Asia. The tsunami that followed the quake surprised thousands of people. They had planned to enjoy a quiet Sunday.

In November, while sleeping in my bed, an earthquake woke me up here in Costa Rica. It was strong enough that there was no chance for me to do anything except hang on until it ended.

Eighteen months ago, I suffered an attack of angina so severe that even in my self-denial I could not ignore it. When I arrived in the emergency room, doctors immediately went to work, unblocking two arteries in my heart by inserting stents. Every day I have lived since then has been “extra.”

Two decades ago, my first friend died of the “gay cancer.” We did not yet know that it was AIDS, only that it was beginning to appear in our city and among our friends, who were beginning to get very sick. Many, many of them — most of them — died.

Life is precious. It is also precarious. It can be taken away in the blink of an eye. If there is anything — anything — we want or need to do, then we must do it now — not tomorrow. Tomorrow may not come.

There is nothing so foolish, it seems to me, than to waste time, to lament the past, to live only for the future, to permit ourselves to be less happy and contented than we can be right now.

Seize the day. Dive headlong into the new year. Live your hopes and dreams. Do not wait for time, because time will not wait for you.

Two quotes for the new year:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming — WOW! … what a ride!”

… and …

“Education, planning, hard work — all these things have their place. But for me, give me a good, solid wish every time!”

My wish is that you forever be generous, joyful and prosperous in body, mind and spirit.

Col 1

(6.25)

Col 2
(7.02)

Col 3
(7.09)

Col 4
(7.16)

Col 5
(7.23)

Col 6
(7.30)

Col 7
(8.06)

Col 8

(8.13)

Col 9

(8.20)