Party In The U.S.A.

Legally Rambling (10/6/2009) Today as I was waiting in line at Wendy’s for a very healthy lunch, I was jamming to the latest song by Miley Cyrus. As I was listening, the thought occurred to me - why do I like this song? Hey, I thought it’s OK to like this song! Perhaps because I was listening to it really loud, or perhaps because it doesn’t make me feel so darn responsible. It makes me feel younger.

As Ferris Bueller once opined – “Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” I mean one minute you are watching Cookie Monster (“Me not *take* cookies, me *eat* the cookies”) and then you are trying a case in front of a judge or jury. Wait – what just happened? Life does move fast.

But growing old doesn’t mean you have to - well - act old. I mean look at Brett Favre, last night’s performance is just another indication that forty is the new thirty, or for me - hey, the new twenty! I mean ABC’s new show Cougar Town is even sporting “40 IS THE NEW 20” shirts for sale on their web site. Even the U.S. Army is getting into the act. My understanding is that the maximum enlistment age is now forty-two! Yes, my bet is that 40 is the new 20. I like the math here people. My understanding is also that insurance mortality tables are also being adjusted up – 120 years. Why? – it’s because people keep outliving the table!

So for someone in law school, this is really great news. Think about how much of your time between age twenty to thirty is dedicated to your education and professional development. If you think about it a lawyer’s education and professional development practically wipes out the entire decade. In fact, for most of the time during that ten year period you are just trying to figure it all out and it sucks! So that’s where all the time went during that decade of my life!

Now don’t get me wrong, if I think about it, armed with the professional decrees and the life knowledge and skills I have acquired over the last forty plus years – being twenty again sounds pretty good. Hey, I’m no Zac Efron, but Seventeen Again sounds fun as well. However, since I just started running again, my body tells me I am definitely not 20! But, the good news if you really think deeper - as my great aunt Zula Patranella, who lived to be 100 would state - “age is just a state of mind.” True each of us are much more than any age!

Ramble On ……You still have lots of time!