When I’m Sixty-Four

This photo needs no identification.  And today, Dear Readers, I’m going to lead off with something a little different from my usual blog posts.

I’m starting with the clip.

ICYMI, please watch the whole thing.

This just blew me away.  Here’s Paul McCartney- one of the world’s most famous and justly-celebrated people- stopping by old childhood haunts and having a blast.

Just like your everyday bloke.

Except he’s not.

He’s Sir Paul McCartney and he’s turned from pop star into pop idol into pop icon into role model.

It’s been a long journey but a positive one.  Fame and fortune have not done an “Elvis” on him, thank the Lord.

As he alludes to in the clip, his life hasn’t all been a bed of roses.  He lost his mum early.  Not to mention his two BFF and collaborators- John and and his wife, Linda.

But it’s clear that Paul has weathered his storms with courage and grace.

Here’s how the Oxford English Dictionary (partially) defines “grace.”

grace

 NOUN
  • Smoothness and elegance of movement.

    ‘she moved through the water with effortless grace’
  • Courteous good will.

    ‘he had the good grace to apologize to her afterwards’
    graces An attractively polite manner of behaving.
    ‘she has all the social graces’
  • (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

    1.  noun A divinely given talent or blessing.
      ‘the scheme has proved to be a great grace for the Church
    2. 3.2 The condition or fact of being favoured by someone

I’d say Macca has ALL the traits, wouldn’t you?

We were right all along to love him.

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10 Responses to When I’m Sixty-Four

  1. Jack C. Feldman says:

    Ellen — It’s a lovely tribute to the life of Paul McCartney. He has been through much joy and sorrow in his life — not only the loss of his Mother and his wife, but also the murder of his best friend, John Lennon. Yet he raised a beautiful daughter and has accomplished much for which he has been honored in his life.

    When I’m 64, indeed. A message for us all.

  2. Steven Lindeman says:

    I truly think Paul has always reminded us that being rich and famous is not all a bed of roses. He has loved and lost during this whirlwind of life which regular people deal with all the time. Those of us in Tucson Arizona do miss seeing Linda and Paul tooling around town and occasionally have pizza at Tino’s (a local pizza joint on the eastside of town). Paul and Linda really loved coming to Tucson. It was a getaway from the crazy life of being famous…people in Tucson gave them their space and they loved spending time on their ranch on the east side of Tucson. We in town miss him but also realize that Tucson was a place for memories he shared with Linda….Jojo understands.

    • Ellen Ross says:

      Thank for the bird’s eye view, Steve. I knew they felt Tucson was a happy haven for them. I heard that Linda and Paul spent special time there before she died. Glad they could be “just plain folks” there. As you saw from the clip, it’s not easy to find private moments with such a public face. Again, thanks for your take on this. Eleanor (not) Rigby 🎼

  3. Joan Himmel Freeman says:

    love, love, love, love!

  4. Gary W says:

    The best.

  5. Barry Lukoff says:

    I was only going to watch it for a moment or two. Instead I was captivated.
    You’re use of the word “grace” is spot on.

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