I'm not getting older... I'm getting better.

The title refers to this week's TMI Thursday post from Sean.  Fighting words!.... and I don't believe it completely.  The TMI questions will be combined with Dogably Pawfect Saturday pictures.

1.  When did you first know you were an adult?
At 19, I was gravely ill with a "massive involvement" of a malignant melanoma which had metastisized and spread widely.  At the time, I was believed to be terminally ill.  I realized with stark clarity that I had to cope with the fear, pain and dying all on my own.  My parents couldn't help me get out of this one.

The second time happened when, at 29, I held my first-born baby immediately after her birth.  Responsibility!  Becoming a parent really is a life-changing experience.

2.  Where were you when you first thought, "I'm old!"    At 48, I was in extruciating pain and had temporarily lost most of the use of my arm and legs because of some severely degraded vertebrae in my neck which I posted about here.  I felt about as spry as my 98 year-old grandmother!

3.  What was your best year?  In my late 20s,  I owned a spectcular home debt-free, had a great career, a newborn daughter and a beautiful wife.  We were having sex nearly every day with the goal of conceiving our second child.  I  had everything I ever dreamed of.

4.  Have you become your parents?   Physically, I am like a clone of my father but he doesn't exercise or look after himself so he's very heavy.  I'm in far slimmer and in better shape than he ever was.  In personality, I am identical to my mother (hardworking, determined and with a positive outlook) and getting more so all the time.

5.  Gray hair:
-Is it sexy?   Most definitely, on a slim older man.  If a gray-haired man is overweight, he just looks like Santa Claus....  not sexy at all!

My 'grizzled prospector' look.

-How much do you have and where?  My sideburns, beard and moustache would be about 70% gray, but I have to be clean-shaven these days.  The young men I hook up with all complained that my beard was too scratchy.  Scratchy beard = no kissing!

-Where is the best or worst placed you have it?   I have no concerns about the little bit of gray hair I have now.  But I'm not looking forward to getting gray pubes!!!

6.  Is older better?   Yes and no.  "Yes", because I have a million times more self-confidence, courage and spirit than I had when I was in my 20s.  This only comes with life experience.  But I am concerned about the physical side of aging;  my body is wearing out and it's only going to get worse!

Bonus:    How is sex different now?   It is hugely different now that I'm having sex with men rather than with a woman!  I feel true passion and sexual hunger when I'm with a naked man ... it's as natural as breathing.