Turning 1,000,003
Tomorrow is my birthday.
I like to joke that it’s my 1 millionth birthday, but I’ve made that joke for several years now, so I must be at least 1,000,003.
As long as I’m picking numbers, I’d prefer a prime number. But whaddya know, 1,000,003 is prime, so that’ll be the new age I claim.
How did I get so old?
Actually, I’ll be 68. Leaving a prime year—67—for an age that’s divisible by 4 and 17.
Staying Oblivious. The good news is that I’m generally unaware of my extreme age.
Of course I’m weaker, slower, shakier, more wrinkled, baggier and more forgetful.
But slowly blurring memory, like gradually softening eyesight, allow me to believe that I’m the same as I’ve always been.
And, somehow, I fly better than I did when I was a much younger man of 66 and I’m still learning web publishing stuff like CSS, SQL and PHP.
The Next Prime. I’ll hit my prime again when I turn 71 on Feb. 18, 2011.
If I were really 100,000,003 years old, I’d have to wait for a new prime until I was 1,000,033.
Million-year-olds have it tough.
I’m glad I’m still in my 60s.
Photo by Doug Traub
Tags: Flying, Life, Wings.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
You still look prime to me, darlin’. I do so love being married to an older man.
Happy b-day,
Your trophy wife
February 17th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
In dog years you are 476 years old. If you were a dog at 68, you’d only be 9.7 years old in people years. Have you always been obsessed with numbers, or is just since you turned 67?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Mike
February 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Happy Birthday, Pete.
Let’s continue to fly on lots more.
Bruce
February 19th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Happy Birthday, Pete.
You missed by 12 days, if you had only stayed in for 12 more days, you will only be 17 years old this year, which is also a prime number! Or 119 in dog years!
Brian
February 21st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Pete,
I never would’ve guessed you were 1,000,003 years old. Once I turned 35 everyone became “about my age”.
Happy belated Birthday wishes Pete!
Don
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hello Pete,
I start forgetting things. 
I wish you the best and hope to continue seeing you around. You are a good friend and fun to talk to.
Somehow late to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY but hey are we all getting old.
Latinflyer.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Am I late to this party? Who turned off the lights? Oh man, I missed it. Rats. Well, maybe next year.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Can’t believe I missed it this year. You are to me what I am to you and that’s a lot in dog years.
xxoo