Today, 18th March, James Frank Sanders turns a whopping 96 years of age.

Let’s each of us give him a thunderous 96 claps…

What an achievement! Hands up anyone reading this who seriously thinks they will reach 96? I’ll wait…

Just as I thought! Not too many of us.

But James Frank Sanders is lucky. He comes from a family where everyone enjoys longevity.

I have a feeling that he will outlive them all and that’s because he does so many things that people much younger tend not to do.

He actively writes.

He sees fun in the oddest situations.

Recently he has mastered the art of emailing, as well as addressing the vagaries of Medium.

Because of that, he is always on call for advice in his retirement complex home.

I met James online just as he was losing heart as a writer on Medium. He wasn’t earning money and I felt that all he needed was a band of followers to read and promote him.

That’s when I wrote this poem about him. It’s based on AA Milne’s ‘They’re Changing Guards At Buckingham Palace.”

He loved it. It also got people interested in his work.

Fun facts about James

• He has all his teeth. How do I know that? Because today he is going out for a birthday lunch with his sons Scott and David. He’s having a rib roast, something you’d never get in a retirement dining room, but also, to enjoy one of those, you really need reliable chompers!
• He hates off-key singing, especially the renditions of Happy Birthday that you hear in retirement homes (or some classrooms.) I’m with you on that one James! Hopefully the glass of wine you have for lunch will help ease your pain when they sing to you at dinner time. Maybe you could think about starting them off on the same key. That certainly helps, in my experience.
• He’d really like to have a few more followers and readers, especially readers, on Medium. Is that too much to ask for our birthday boy?

One thing I am convinced of, is that he is sensitive and caring.

Read this post and tell me you didn’t cry.

I suspect Del was his one true love. Imagine on your journey to eternal peace and you hear the beautiful voice of your dear friend James serenading you to your resting place.

Sometimes it’s in what James doesn’t say, rather than his written words, that you find a subtle message. I did shed a little tear, something I am good at.

Here is a terrific article on James’ niece, a pianist. There’s a message here for us all. This would seem to be one talented family.

What he’s not doing…

Snoozing in his armchair. This man has work to do. He has stories to relate. He has friendships to make.

And today…he has clocked many minutes and hours on our planet, all of it equating to 96 years. Drum roll…

James’ life is truly worth celebrating, so please, find your personal way to wish him well.

You can’t send any rib eyes through Medium, you can’’t send a choir master to train the ears of Jame’s retirement home buddies, but you can certainly validate him in you own unique ways.

That, I will have to leave to you.

Happiest of birthdays James. Have a wonderful day.

• May your steak be juicy and tender.
• Sunshine? Be sure to bring your own.
• As for tomorrow, just step on today and allow it to take you there.

“My physical body may be less efficient and less beautiful in old age. But God has given me an enormous compensation: my mind is richer my Soul is broader and my wisdom is at a peak. I am so happy with the riches of my advanced peak age that, contrary to Faust, I would not wish to return to youth.” ~Robert Muller