Old I'm not old

Fifty blah blah years ago i started a journey that was to take the rest of my life, a journey we all take, for some a journey that lasts no longer than a few minutes , weeks, or years, these short journeys will affect other journeys being made, but i digress.
in my teens i thought as we all do that i was immortal, getting old wont happen to me, the stomach cramps i had as a young boy had subsided into the occasional episode, not getting in the way of being a teenager, but i was convinced i would not grow old, 20s 30s 40s all gone and now  the fifty's are going down the pan faster than last nights vindaloo.
 latlely ive started to think maybe im getting old, the body wont do what i want sometimes, the back has decided i cant touch me toes any more, well not from a standing start, im still smoking much to my own disgust let alone yours, the weight is coming off but that's more to the diabetes than my own efforts, yes you heard correctly i am a diabetic, how you ask, old age says my diabetic nurse, (last week id never heard of them) who says im diabetic i ask , the NHS  that's who, give 2 blood sugar tests above the magic number of 7 and your trapped forever with the label diabetic, it doesnt matter how well you control it with diet your a diabetic, fine says i, staple the label on my forehead, tattoo my arse if you wish but" I AM NOT OLD", im just not as young as i used to be.
In the doctors waiting room i sat next to a young mother who was waiting to see the doc with a six week old baby daughter (how do i know this, i talked to her, i will talk to anyone) the baby was looking lovingly at her mum (as was i) and i realized this waiting room held the full spectrum of life, from this baby to the old lady with the walking wheels, with me somewhere in between, but in the upper end of the scale, im well past laying on my back looking at my mum while filling my nappy, ( nappy filling my well return one day) and certainly not ready for walking wheels or a zimmer frame, i know i will never play for England or run in the hundred meters but i will say it again I AM NOT OLD.