In a very short time I will be turning the golden age of fifty. To tell the truth I have not one second of anxiety about turning 50. Like James Brown, “I feel good!!!!!!!!!! 

Fifty years will soon have passed and in a way it seems hard to believe. I feel so good. I really feel good when I walk through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and former Morehouse classmates continue to recognize me after 32 years. I started my matriculation at Morehouse on August 29, 1976. I must admit I do think more about my own mortality. In the past five years I have lost my brother, Melvin Julius Griffin Jr. (d. Dec. 18, 2003) and my mother, Alger James Griffin (d. April 30, 2007). My dad Melvin Julius Griffin Sr. is still kicking and hoping to live to the ripe old age of 150. He has about 72 years more to go since he is currently almost 78. I must admit he looks good and he continues to work a full time job. 

Debra is somewhat perplexed that I can feel so good about growing old. I explained to her that I have a positive self image and I feel optimistic. I don’t worry about death because I have lived every minute of my life. My last physical was at age 18 just before heading off to Morehouse College. I haven’t had a headache in over 25 years. I have never contracted the flu even though I have never taken a flu shot. Soon I will be fifty years old and I take no medication. I do however walk 4 miles a day seven days a week and eat chicken every opportunity that I can. 

What has surprised me most about growing older is the incredible amount of self-knowledge that comes along with it. I actually feel better now than I did in my younger days. I get up every morning filled with energy and enthusiasm. 

I won’t be alone this year as I turn the big “50”. Some of the big names turning 50 include: Michael Jackson, Matt Laure, Alec Baldwin, Madonna and Michelle Pfeiffer. 

An elderly dear friend of mine would always tell me: “Anyone who wishes to live a long life should remember the secret is that age is controlled by a thought force that guides us. If you get with the right thought force it will give you power as you go. Your life is what you make it. You can make it great or you can make it small. The choice is yours. Your thoughts can determine how long you will live.” There must be some wisdom in that. Mrs. Bingham, Tuskegee University’s oldest living graduate at the time of her death lived to be 101 years old. I may not live to be 100, but I sure do plan to scare the hell out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the words of my dad, “If these gas prices get any higher I am going to buy me a horse!”