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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015
Turning 49 doesn’t matter when you don’t act your age
ba-weeto su-pweem, pweez...
Ned
I still get excited when,
Hickson like at dinner last night, I
Last night, a good friend
suddenly — and without
warning — offered a pre-
emptive toast to my turning
49 next week. I call him a
“good” friend because, until
as recently as last night, I
considered him a “great”
friend. But I honestly can’t
remember his name now.
Haha! Just kidding!
We were actually never
very close.
Ok, in all seriousness, until
his good-natured ribbing
about turning 49 (I still can’t
stop laughing!), I hadn’t
given it much thought. That’s
because I don’t really think
about myself relative to age.
Relative to the nearest strip
of bacon, coffee shop and my
wife? Sure.
But age? Not really.
I still wear band shirts from
Hot Topic; I have eight pairs
of Marvel superhero Vans
shoes; sometimes when I’m at
a drive-thru, I’ll order my
food while talking like Elmer
Fudd.
I’d wike your deee-wishess
found a Star Wars poster in
my box of Reese's peanut
butter cereal! And yes, I had
peanut butter cereal for din-
ner.
On the rare occasion I’m
asked for my age, like when
it’s Senior Tuesday at Fred
Meyer I order a glass of wine,
I have to think about it and
then count forward from
1977. I was 11 years old then.
I remember that because “Star
Wars” came out that year.
I realize a person could
suggest the inability to
remember my age is, in itself,
a sign of my aging. However,
as I've mentioned, that per-
son’s name escapes me.
It’s no small irony that over
the years some people have
remarked, “You don’t look
your age!” while others have
suggested “You need to start
ACTING your age!”
I don’t think this is a coin-
cidence.
In fact, I’d say one is the
direct result of the other.
Keeping a lighthearted per-
spective on the world and
maintaining a sense of won-
derment about its possibilities
— whether plausible or fanci-
ful — helps avoid that down-
ward spiral into living life in
an uninspired rut. Kids
instinctively avoid this rut
because they know their mis-
sion is to explore, push the
boundaries and question the
rules — of the house, the
laws of physics, human
anatomy, the proper use of
utensils — in order to define
themselves.
They approach life with
their eyes wide open because
they haven’t started second-
guessing the world yet.
Then somewhere along the
way we’re told being an adult
means having all the answers.
So we stop questioning.
Stop wondering.
Stop trying to move objects
with our mind while sitting in
traffic. And stop believing in
the possibility — however
remote — we might be the
vessel of an undiscovered
super power.
I’ve worked hard to keep
my youthful perspective.
Does that mean I spend
every moment being a goof-
ball trying to shoot lasers out
of my eyes or throw a stapler
at my editor using my mind?
Ok, fine. But how about
when I'm not at work?
No. I recognize when it’s
time take things seriously and
the responsibilities I have as a
father, husband and human
being. I’m reminded of this
whenever my fire department
pager goes off — and how
knowing when to embrace
rational understanding over
youthful wonderment can
mean the difference between
life and death.
Yet the same can be said
about everyday life: knowing
when to embrace wonderment
over rationality can also mean
the difference between life
and death, albeit a slow from
the inside.
So as I approach 49, I plan
on keeping a balance between
the two. For example, when I
responded to this morning’s
tap-out for a car accident I
put youthful wonderment
aside and dialed-in my seri-
ous mode.
I also wore Marvel super-
hero underwear from my
kids.
Because constantly living
your life “age-appropriately”
can be like Kryptonite.
Ned is a syndicated columnist
with News Media Corporation.
His book, “Humor at the Speed of
Life,” is available online at Port
Hole Publications.
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How to keep things light when dining out this summer
* Don’t pile on your salad. Salads are a summertime staple for many people, who prefer salads
because they’re delicious but not likely to produce any symptoms of overeating. But salads are only as
light as their ingredients allow them to be. If you want to keep things light and healthy, avoid adding
too many ingredients to your salad. Creamy dressings are oft en heavy, especially when paired with
ingredients like bacon and cheese. When adding ingredients to your salad, opt for lighter and healthier
items like raw vegetables or even some fresh fruit.
* Forgo the freebies. While many people consider complementary bread baskets one of the joys of
dining out, such freebies also make meals more fi lling. If you anticipate your meal taking a long time to
make it to your table, ask the waiter to bring a plate of fresh fruit or vegetables in lieu of a bread basket
or a bowl of chips or nachos. Th is way you won’t starve while waiting for your meal, but also you won’t
be fi lling up on heavy foods you might regret eating when you head back into the warm summer air.
* Split dessert. Dessert might seem like the ideal way to cap off a delicious meal, but a decadent slice
of chocolate cake or creamy helping of creme brulee only makes a meal more fi lling. If you must indulge
in dessert, split your dessert with a fellow diner so your last few bites of the night don’t make you feel
uncomfortable when it’s time to leave the restaurant.
Many people prefer to eat less when temperatures rise. And while restaurants tend to off er larger
portions than you might eat at home, there are ways to enjoy a night out on the town without overdoing
it at the dinner table.
Dining out is a great way to experience new cuisine and enjoy a meal with family and friends. But
dining out oft en leads to overeating, a problem that’s unhealthy year-round but especially inconvenient
when warm air makes it more uncomfortable to deal with the side eff ects of overeating.
Th ough some restaurants off er large portions that can make it diffi cult to lighten things up when
dining out in the summer, the following are a handful of ways diners can keep things light but still enjoy
their favorite restaurants even when the mercury has risen.
* Don’t be bashful. Some restaurants alter their menus in warmer weather to accommodate those
customers who prefer lighter fare on hot nights. But even those that don’t make such alterations might
be amenable to customers who request certain changes when dining out. For example, ask your waiter
if you can substitute vegetables in lieu of a side of potatoes or french fries, which tend to be heavier
and harder to digest. Don’t be afraid to ask for such substitutions or even ask that vegetable servings be
doubled.
* Don’t mistake “low-carb” for “low-calorie.” Just because a dish is heralded as “low-carb” does not
necessarily mean it’s low in calories. A low-carb dish might seem like the perfect option on a warm
summer night, but not if it’s laden with calories. Before ordering a low-carb dish, confi rm if it’s also low
in calories and low in fat. If not, look for a lighter option to avoid feeling too full aft er dinner.
* Th ink inside the box. When ordering a large entree, you can be creative by asking your waiter to
box half of your meal before it even reaches the table. Th is prevents you from overeating and makes it
more likely that you will eat a meal that’s more in tune with a healthy serving size.
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