A Final Lesson from My Father

On Memorial Day, May 24th, Lori and I took my dad to a service honoring U.S. foreign service officers. In the preceding weeks, his health had declined, and we were surprised he wanted to go – especially in the heat and sun.

We picked him up at 8:45. He was dressed in a suit and tie—dapper as always. It took a little finessing, but we found parking, got him settled, and he very much enjoyed the service.

Afterward, we made our way slowly back to the car, my dad using his walker and breathing heavily with the exertion—unsteady, but determined to keep moving under his own power. It was a lovely morning—lots of spring green all around and birds in the air. I was focused on the path ahead, worried he might fall or tire and need to sit.

Suddenly, he stopped.

He cocked his head, and reached into his vest pocket for his iPhone. Unsure what was happening, I moved toward him to steady his walker.

He flicked his iPhone to life, tapped the screen, and held it somewhat shakily up into the air.

“What on earth?” I thought…

“Listen to that bird,” he said. “Never heard that one before. This app should identify the song and tell me what it is!” Moments later his curiosity was rewarded—the app identified the songbird. He smiled, satisfied, and we continued our walk to the car.

Ten days later, on June 6th, my father died—surrounded by family, his mind crystal clear until the end.

We should all be so lucky.

He lived the SecondFifty Life

Bill Harrop embodied the ethos of SecondFifty. He refused to buy into outdated stereotypes about aging. He never lost his curiosity for the world around him.

Born in 1929, he lived through enormous technological, geopolitical, and social changes. He adapted to them all. He never stopped learning. Never stopped wondering. He had great genes, yes—but also a strong work ethic, a joyful outlook, and a fierce commitment to staying sharp in body and mind. He went to the gym in his building a few days before he died!

He wouldn’t have recognized the pop psychology phrase “self-actualization.” He just lived it.

So what now?

With both parents gone (my mom died at 93), I’ve been feeling the weight of their absence. We were close.

And I’m wondering: Do I have the same grit and grind they did?

Time will tell. I was blessed with two wonderful role models.

If you’re going through something similar, I’m with you. Our family was lucky to have healthy elders. Many aren’t. Caring for aging parents is a lot of work—and it takes a toll.

Our best course is to take care of ourselves, stay focused on the positive, and keep the faith. Remember that we have agency over our health and our future.

That’s what I hope SecondFifty can help with—providing information, motivation, and real, age-appropriate tools to help you (and me) stay active and independent for years to come.

My longevity goal is now set: 33 more vibrant years to get to 96!

Speaking of agency over our health…

Right around the time of my dad’s passing, I got some troubling news: I’ve been diagnosed with mild osteoarthritis in my knees.

Here’s the short version: I’ve had some knee pain over the last 18 months. I’ve been playing more tennis, with lots of starts and stops. I assumed it was just “runner’s knee” or overuse that needed rest or physical therapy. It’s not debilitating, but it was time to get it checked out.

According to the orthopedists I saw, the cartilage that acts as a cushion and absorbs the pressure placed on the knee has worn thin in one area, causing irritation and inflammation. Not serious, and the knee is overall healthy, but it is compromised.

Here’s what I was told:

Doc Number One:

· Consider a Cortisone shot to reduce inflammation. Give it a few months and see how it works. This should alleviate the pain.

· Go back to playing tennis and enjoy life

Okay—I like that I can stay active, but does this address why I’m losing cartilage? Cortisone doesn’t seem like a long-term solution. I don’t want to do more damage.

Doc Number Two (the second opinion):

· Agrees with the first diagnosis

· Advice: Avoid activities that put pressure on the knee, like squatting or jumping or steep inclines. No hiking uphill or carrying a heavy load.

· Can play tennis, but carefully

· Yes to the idea of cortisone as needed, up to three times a year

So… basically stop exercising my lower body? That’s pretty drastic information to casually drop on me in a fifteen minute consultation!

I Felt Old—Suddenly

This news hit hard. I felt fragile. Aged. On the heels of losing my dad, it was a lot.

But after a few weeks of regrouping (and channeling my Pop), I’ve decided:

I’m not going with injections or limitations. I’m not happy with either of those options.

I’m getting proactive. I’ve been told twice before that a musculoskeletal issue was age-related and unavoidable—and both times I fully recovered through targeted exercise, mobility work, and even with acupuncture. The traditional medical approach to injury is no longer the only path. We continue to see professional athletes extending their careers with newer proactive methods that improve body mechanics and stave off injury.

So, while I may end up needing cortisone or reduced activity, that’s not where I’m starting.

I want to reconfirm the diagnosis, understand what’s causing it and determine how to correct it. I want to challenge the reflex to chalk it up to "just getting older."

Knee pain impacts 25% of people over 55, which makes this a worthy area of focus for SecondFifty.

My knees are overall healthy. They’re not limiting my activity. And I want to preserve them for the long haul. I’m sure you want the same for yours.

More updates to come. I have a plan and will share progress in the coming months.

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Who Sent this Newsletter:

I’m George Harrop, founder of SecondFifty — an online resource for people who want to prioritize their health and fitness by taking a common-sense approach to living a vital and fulfilling second fifty years.