Today I Turned 80

By Bob Rein

Today is my 80th trip around the sun. I have outlived my brother, my parents have long passed, my aunts and uncles have passed, and only a few of my cousins are still alive. I graduated college with a degree in Finance and did post-grad work in Finance. I have worked in technology from 1964-2002. I worked in commercial real estate from 2002-2024. I served my country off and on for 9 years, earning The Green Beret. I served my community by becoming a Search Manager with a Search & Rescue Team. But I have been an adventurer and explorer and ethnographer almost all my life.

I have been married for almost 54 years. I am a father of two sons, a grandfather of one son, and a father-in-law of two daughters. We are a diverse family; white, yellow, and brown. As a family, we are of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Agnostic, and Atheist beliefs. We have lived in 5 states in the U.S., Trinidad-Tobago, and a few provinces of Canada. I have been blessed with life-long friends that even though they live all over the country, we still stay in touch.

I have explored the remote parts of Arizona and Texas. I paddled my way up the Inside Passage (Canadian Portion). And along the way, I studied the Indigenous peoples of those areas. In April of this year, I was admitted to The Explorers Club and appointed Membership Chair of the Texas Chapter.

I can honestly say, “Been there, done that.”

I am not done yet! I have dreams and health and stamina to explore more. Some of my dreams are too demanding (physically) but the others are within my means and abilities. People say I am in great shape for an 80-year-old. There are days I am ready to conquer the wilds but there are days the aches and pains of this age makes me question how much longer I can go on. Healing from injuries takes so much longer than before. However, I do believe that you are as young as you feel.

Today, we will celebrate as most of our family are local. But tonight, I will dream of getting on a float-plane and being dropped off on some off-the-grid locale, home to grizzlies, wolves, and Musk Ox. A place that have been home for centuries to either a First Nation, the Metis, or the Inuit.