Trip west, part 1

Our flight to Denver left promptly at 5:55 p.m., taking off into the sunny late afternoon skies of Nashville. The clouds obscured our view of the ground until we were over Colorado. I took this picture out of our window.

Ravi Shankar and getting old

Sometimes your age catches you by surprise.

Last night at Jazzercise (which I've been doing for 19 years) we danced to a tune by Norah Jones, and the instructor asked if anyone knew who her famous father was.

I answered, "Ravi Shankar," which drew inquisitive looks from the others.

I explained that Ravi Shankar had been the Beatles guru.

I got to shake Ravi Shankar's hand following a concert he gave at William & Mary in 1968, where I was a senior.

Little exchanges like this make me realize that I am in a different generation now. Many middle-aged people seem to be only vaguely aware of the Beatles and other cultural icons of my youth.

I don't really mind getting old as long as I can maintain my physical health and vitality, which I seem to be doing pretty well so far. I turned 61 this past Valentine's day.