A coon’s age

A southern expression is “I ain’t seen you in a coon’s age!” Meaning a long time. When that expression was coined no one knew how long a raccoon lived.

So I decided to look into sayings like that, our British friends say “In Donkey’s years”.  Donkey’s typically live 45 years.  We also like to say, “Ain’t seen ya in a month of Sundays!”  meaning a long time.

Donk, from Devon village

That brings me around the long way to my illusive subject today. Dogs age.  I have asked folks how old is your dog, they have answered, ‘in human years he is 45’. That formula is multiplying the present age of the dog by 7. There are more complicated formulas, but I am a ‘ball park’ kind of guy with figures.

I have never had anyone say, ‘my cat is 35  in human years’. That would mean the cat is about 7 yrs old.  formula is about  5 x actual age.

A cat typically lives longer than a dog, especially a big dog. Small dogs run a cat a good race in years, 17 to the cat’s 21.

There are more complicated formulae but these work for me.

So, with all that I got to thinking. How old am I in girl’s age? Ah ha. According to Gov’t statistics Women live an avg of 79.8 years, while men get 74.4. So my actual age in woman's years is 1.07258 times my age 73. “WOW, in women’s years I am 78.29838 yrs old. Now that I am Sherry’s ELDER, 78 yrs old I expect my senior discount, taken out in trade!!!”

I’m sorry, I know some of you don’t like FIGURES, (AS IN NUMBERS JIMMY, NUMBERS!). So when you say, ‘my dog is 25 human years old’. I am saying “I am 78 years old in girl’s years. Now I am going to need help getting to bed.”

Thanks for putting up with my nonsense,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

 What we think, or what we know in the end is of little consequence. The only real consequence is what we do.

—John Ruskin

****************************************************

fully customized 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline. Notice hood ornament off and door handles shaved.