Approaching Mid-Life

by Andrew Tibbetts

In a few weeks I’ll be half-way to 90. I intend to live that long- at least. Although the Life Expectancy Calculator suggests I’m only going to make it to 78.58, I figure they aren’t factoring in the developments that will occur in medicine over the next few decades. I remind myself, when I feel old, that I’m not even half done! I also remind myself, when I feel unsuccessful, of artists that became known in their later years: Grandma Moses began painting in her 70’s to help with her arthritis; Henry Miller’s first novel came out when he was 44; Anton Bruckner began composing in his 40’s. Child prodigies always die unhappy and penniless any way, don’t they?

78.58, eh? That means I’d better not mark anything in my calendar after March 16, 2030. Hey, I’m going to save a bit on my student loans! Isn’t that great?

I recently made a list of my publications for a grant application! It fit on a page. But it almost filled the page! Could be worse, right? And the next ones will be page 2’ers (if I go with a footer, and I will. I will! I will! I will!)

This week I’ve had a long poem, four prose-poems, and three flash fiction pieces rejected. The accumulation has managed to remove the comment “Congratulations. Your acceptance rate is above average!” from the top of my submissions tracker on Duotrope. Oh well. I’ve got half a life to get it back up there.