Well... I just turned 59, had a lumbar fusion last Nov., have arthritis in my right hip, and I'm getting fat. Kooky as this sounds, I don't mind the getting fat part. I think fat guys are sexy, and I kind of like calling myself a bear.

What bothers me most is that, fat or not, I can't do the things I used to do... running, mountain biking, walking the distances I used to, weight lifting as hard and heavy as I used to. I was not a jock, per se, but I liked to do those things. The lumbar problems and hip have pretty much put an end to those.

It also doesn't help that my beard is predominantly silver and white. I'm married, but other guys still hit on me for the "silver daddy bear" image. I'm not flattered to hear "woof! daddy bear!" (I wouldn't mind if my beard was still dark). And I'm definitely not flattered to hear "Santa Claus!" A lot of this is stemming from my beginning to resemble my father, whom I did not care for very much.

So no, I don't cope well.