The Getting Old Thread

[pdub]

Lots of you gearhead types are just getting started out in life, compared to some of us others on BS. Don't rightly know how many others.

I don't think I can stress enough to young folks, DO IT WHILE YOU CAN.

Because while you're young, you can, and while you're young you don't think old will ever happen. Well, it's because you haven't lived long enough yet.

Not that it's all bad. My dad always said, "It beats the alternative." Daddy now knows what the alternative is, but I can't ask him bout it. I wish I knew.

And it shouldn't be all bad. I mean, it's a progressive thing. It becomes all about "can'ts."

And I'm only nearly 55. So...live hard and laugh a lot. What are the rules? There's no instruction book for it.

[oletrux4evr]

Stay busy. Keep your mind working. Associate with younger people, they have a different outlook. Know your limitations as well as your capabilities, and be realistic about what you can and can't do.
I'm turning 66 today. Spent most of this week powerwashing and rebuilding parts of my 8' X 38' balcony....I'm sore as heck...........I'll finish the repairs and stain it next week.
Oh......keep a positive outlook too..........it it's not going to matter in a few years, don't sweat it or stress over it.
Geez, that's enough.....

[pdub]

Happy birthday Ed!!!!!!!! May you and I both have a whole lot more of those.

You're a fascinating guy. It sure was a pleasure to meet you in person. That's straight from the heart. And Earl's a great piece of work, too.

pw

[DanStokes]

65 (and a half) here.

My advice - work is what you do to finance your life. It is NOT your life. So have as much fun as you can at work and have complete fun (or as much as you can) outside of work. Remember the old adage that no one on their death bed says "I wish I'd spent more time at work".

PERSPECTIVE.

Dan

[pdub]

I think the reason I started this thread is because I'm feeling pretty mortal. It takes an event to cause that feeling (feeling mortal), and why is that? Yes, there was an event, but no need to go into it.

Our time on earth is limited, and I keep falling back on the same saying - "If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, who would you call today? So, why are you waiting?"

If I had to check out right now, I think there's probably a few things I haven't already done or said, but I believe those things are few and far between. And if I can't remember what those things are, I'll never get around to them anyhow.

[GH]

I'll turn 71 a couple of days before we go to DW. I took a part time job at a stainless steel manufacturing plant back in October. I had worked there a couple of time before back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I agree with one of the above statements about keeping your mind active and associate with the younger bunch of geeks (DIESELGEEK). Enjoy life, it's the only time we'll be here.

[68scott385]

I think the reason I started this thread is because I'm feeling pretty mortal. It takes an event to cause that feeling (feeling mortal), and why is that? Yes, there was an event, but no need to go into it.

Our time on earth is limited, and I keep falling back on the same saying - "If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, who would you call today? So, why are you waiting?"

If I had to check out right now, I think there's probably a few things I haven't already done or said, but I believe those things are few and far between. And if I can't remember what those things are, I'll never get around to them anyhow.

I can empathize with your pain. I too had an event, on Memorial Day, that I have yet to deal with fully. The bottom of the hill was alot closer than it appeared and the ride was over before I realized it had started. Metaphorically speaking. I knew the day would come but the event happened much quicker than expected.

Anyway, I've been asking myself the same question, "Who would I call?" The best answer I can come up with is my son. I've been trying to find a way to...well damnit, now I'm in a way that prohibits typing...

[Barry Donovan]

65 (and a half) here.

My advice - work is what you do to finance your life. It is NOT your life. So have as much fun as you can at work and have complete fun (or as much as you can) outside of work. Remember the old adage that no one on their death bed says "I wish I'd spent more time at work".

PERSPECTIVE.

Dan

lucky people would say that.
an atypical pathof health makes advice difficult, everyone really is uniquely on their own.

two arms working may be a focus to leave the bad leg alone.

[68scott385]

lucky people would say that.
an atypical pathof health makes advice difficult, everyone really is uniquely on their own.

two arms working may be a focus to leave the bad leg alone.

Sounds like VA healthcare system.

[Bob Holmes]

My brothers father in law is in his mid to late 80s. At the last family function I sat down next to him and asked him how his golf game was coming along. He said that he wasn't getting out a lot, I asked why not. He said that one of the foursome had passed away, another was physically having difficult and the third hadn't been the same since the passing of his wife. I looked at him and asked "well Albert what are you going to do." His reponse "Find younger friends!."

I've got friends that are in their early 20s to their late 80s. Good people are good people whatever the age.

Don't hesitate, however, to shuck hanger-ons that bring you down. Life is too short for people that give you grief, even if at one time you considered them friends. All lives change over time, you change and your friends change...sometimes those changes don't coincide. My boys are going through this right now. They've decided to go to college, their friends have no desire to do so. So they are taking a shit load of grief.

Every day is an opportunity.

[68scott385]

No grief in going to college. It's much better to do when young than after a family has started.

Bob, you're so 100% correct about getting rid of dead weight...that can be a hard lesson to learn but a very valuable one.

[70chevyC-10]

Well said Bob - and Ed - a heartfelt Happy Birthday to you sir, it's my pleasure to call you friend !

[pdub]

But really, I don't mean to be depressing, y'all know that's not my MO. But it's a real deal.

As you go on, even your taste buds change. The same food doesn't taste like is used to.

This evening Sue Unit ordered us a pizza for delivery. She ordered us a large thin crust. Domino's did their job. Cooked it and delivered it. Thin crust indeed. It smelled great. We thought more about eating the box. Woulda been the same thing.

[Deaf Bob]

Stay busy. Keep your mind working. Associate with younger people, they have a different outlook. Know your limitations as well as your capabilities, and be realistic about what you can and can't do.
I'm turning 66 today. Spent most of this week powerwashing and rebuilding parts of my 8' X 38' balcony....I'm sore as heck...........I'll finish the repairs and stain it next week.
Oh......keep a positive outlook too..........it it's not going to matter in a few years, don't sweat it or stress over it.
Geez, that's enough.....

Happy birthday, Ed... Many many more...

I truely believe outlook has a large part on life, thus I love pranking and joking! Yeah , I get " Oh grow the hell up!"...

My dad and I didn't get along too well.. Had maybe 5 years of good times before cancer got him..
With my kids..hugs all around! Every derby..every win or lose... I am one of the first into the arena, giving both a hug! Right there in the arena with all the people watching! One derby, my son sorta shied away.. I said nothing.. Chalked it up to the situation at the time... Next derby, I got the biggest hug ever from him...

Family's important.. But if it is dead weight... Chop it off.. Have a brother that just brings everybody down... Whack, except holidays, for mom's sake..

Love, laugh, do something you enjoy, be with, around those you enjoy.... Life's just too short and sweet to sour it up with crap..

[Grumpy]

A lot of the people including the local car club in this town think I'm crazy, I've towed 800 miles round trip each of the last two weekends to go to Cruises, a show, and a race. I just now climbed down off of the roof of my 14' tall building after cleaning the gutters and getting ready for Isaac's rains, now I'm planning to go back there again and work on the Hot Rod tonight and I'm closing in on 70! Also remember none of us are promised tomorrow so live life to the fullest while we can! One more thing before I get down off of my soapbox, don't let yourself slow down regardless of your age, it's tough to get on top of things again, I'm speaking from experience. I also have no intention of retiring, my retirement will come the day they close the lid on me. Also like Ed said a positive outlook is very important and "Geez, that's enough"!

OK, I confess, I didn't make it back out to the garage tonight, plenty of time for that tomorrow being's the monsoon is coming through