Feeling My Years

While we were moving our daughter into her dorm room yesterday, I spent a few moments in idle chit-chat with another father doing the same. Turns out he was a recently retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer.

My military experience is limited to one three year hitch in the Army, way back in the early 1970s. I am conditioned to think of senior NCOs and Warrant Officers as old guys - stern, aloof figures who are almost God-like.

So imagine how I felt when I learned that this guy was 42 years old - the same age as my oldest son. In other words, I'm old enough to be a Chieft Warrant Officer's father.

My God, I'm old...