I made a huge blunder. My post on February 3 really sucked in so many ways.
First, it was selfish. I’ve been stuck with this crappy, ego-driven, Frank Sinatra song, “My Way,” running through my head every night for weeks and weeks. I thought writing the blog might be my way of freeing myself and elevating to a less doltish song (maybe “Leader of the Pack” or “Macarena”).
So, I take it in to my fabulous editor, Jenni. She reads it, smiles at me and says, “This is just terrible.”
I fight back. “Prove it to me,” I say.
Jenni says, “Well ‘My Way’ may not be the best song for a meaningful message. It can come across as arrogant, and it’s as widely hated as loved. Did you know several people have been murdered in the Philippines while attempting to sing ‘My Way’ in karaoke bars?”
This does not deter me. “Jenni,” I say with an edge in my voice, “we’ve done 519 posts on the Aging blog. Don’t I deserve just one that’s pretty pathetic?”
Jenni knows it’s no use. She lets it go.
On the morning of February 3, my inbox contains more than a few sarcastic comments from disappointed readers. I rush to Jenni’s desk and shout, “How could you do this to me?”
She just looks at me. She says nothing.
When I reach the age of 77, I will be a better person.
Jenni can’t wait.