Understanding Aging and Guilt

In the words of John Lennon, it's "Good to be older," a sentiment that resonates more deeply now that I am 71. As I reflect on Lennon's life, cut short by assassination at 40, I realize how misunderstood the term "assassination" can be. Many react defensively, insisting he was merely "murdered." Yet, my intention in using the term was to highlight the deep-seated guilt society feels for the cruel and self-serving pursuit of power. Figures like Lennon and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. criticized our human flaws, and in doing so, they engaged in a form of political discourse.

Now, as I age, I find myself relinquishing 56 years of guilt tied to my belief that I played a role in Bobby Kennedy's assassination in 1968. At just 15, I attended a celebration at the now-demolished Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where the Republican primary was won by Max Rafferty, a name largely forgotten today. Driven by youthful curiosity, I sought out Democratic girls, finding myself on a path that led me to Bobby Kenn