A song has been running through my head for the past few days. Not the whole song, just one line. It’s from an old Beatles song, and goes: “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?”

I was 14 when the song first came out in 1967, so the lyrics weren’t really relevant to me. That never mattered. As with many popular songs, I knew all the words and could sing along with the radio, but never gave much thought to the meaning.

The song was a big hit when it first came out, of course, and I still hear it every once in a while when I’m listening to an oldies station. I vaguely remember it being mentioned in the news – and played again on the radio – the year Paul McCartney turned 64.

He’s 75 now, by the way. And now it’s my turn. My birthday was yesterday, and somehow age 14 turned into 64. The words “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64,” aren’t cute, clever, and way off in the future anymore. They’re right now.

How did that happen?

Time flies when you’re having fun, the old saying goes. And we all know that the older we get, the faster time flies. So I don’t plan to waste any of it worrying about “old age” looming in the not-too-distant future. Instead I’ll continue taking care of myself as best I can, and living the best life I can. And singing. Always singing.

I think I’ll start ad libbing the lyrics, though. Next time I hear this old Beatles song, I’ll sing along cheerfully and enthusiastically, as I always do. Especially when I get to the chorus: “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 84.”

June 30, 2017
©Betty Liedtke, 2017

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