How It Feels to Be Fifty

In this witty, autobiographical essay the narrator confronts the common myth that fifty marks the start of life's downhill slide. He sketches a playful image of life as a bridge, then dismisses it, arguing that the road ahead still climbs. Through gentle humor and candid anecdotes—like an old underwear advertisement and a teenage fear of proposal—he shows how expectations often clash with lived experience. Listeners are invited to hear a voice that celebrates middle age as a fresh beginning rather than a decline.

He compares reaching fifty to a young teamster finally breaking in his colts, ready for the real work of the journey. The essay spins everyday pursuits—golf, fishing, poker—into a playful reminder that work and play blend as we grow wiser. With stories about early anxieties over marriage and hair loss, the narrator balances self‑deprecation with optimism, suggesting that the best chapters are still ahead. The tone stays light, reflective, and genuinely encouraging for anyone standing at the midpoint of life.