17 Comments

People used to think I was 10-years younger, but somehow my looks caught up to reality. Oh well! I really enjoyed your post. Best to you and Dad!

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Wonderful essay— you’re so lucky to have your father…

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A bit of a sad story. What were the motivations to make this man be so persistent in his lying? Keeping employment? Or was it something else? He seemed to be lying well after retirement. He disavowed his own son. What else was he lying about? Just what was the motivation to be so untruthful?

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So I just asked my dad what else he was hiding all those years and he admitted that I was adopted!!!

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Feb 26, 2022
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Bless your heart

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Love this. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Your article was amazing and got me thinking. Thanks so much!

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thank you

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You inspired it! <3

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Great story. And your dad is still going strong! Maybe shaving 10 years off his age kept him 10 years younger. He had to work at it like a younger man and he did it. WooHoo!

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Thanks so much.

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News flash! People who think they are disguising their ages with hair dye and clothing (and makeup) rarely, if ever, succeed. There are too many other clues -- our skin, hands, teeth, posture, musculature, gait. This was a great read, though, and I'm so happy your father's lies about his age did not sour your relationship.

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Thanks. I do not judge Billie Eilish for dyeing her hair.

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I really enjoyed this story. I can understand the impulse to lie about your age. I’m often tempted to do it. But mostly I just avoid having to admit it. I’ve always thought it was a different issue for woman than for men—a matter of vanity and pride. Perhaps not. Do people judge you differently if you shave 10 years off your age? I guess they do. My mother always said you’re as old as you feel. Perhaps if you say you’re 10 years younger, you feel 10 years younger and live 10 years more. That would make the lie worthwhile!

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I am glad you enjoyed the piece. I have been calling myself an old man for a long time and that has helped me to be a lot crankier.

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This was a pleasure to read. I laughed out aloud when you described your grandfather wearing designer jeans in the nursing home. It seems like your dad was just doing what he had to do to raise his family and survive. The first first photo of you and your dad when you were three is classic - two well dressed dapper fellows - right out of the gate. Age is just a number as my beloved partner says to me daily. Thanks for the uplifting read.

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Thanks so much

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