You know, as I get older it seems that in many ways I have become more callus in my outlook on things. Less forgiving and less tolerant of Idiots, thieves, people that have no consideration for others...people that don't use their turn signals. All kinds of stuff....big and small.

On the other hand, I have much more understanding and sympathy for those that suffer. Especially unexpected sufferings. To the point that it seems my heart really reaches out to those affected. And when kids are involved it really gets to me.

But, even the good things. Hell, I sometimes tear up when I am at a sporting event and our National Anthem is played. Or when I go to a Veterans event. Watching a young person achieve the pinnacle of their personal best....whether I know them or not. If I connect with how they worked and the struggles they championed to get where they are...it, at least briefly, gets to me.

Over the past few weeks, mostly by coincidence, I have run across some people I haven't seen in years. Maybe that is why I have been so reflective of late. People that I hired or otherwise worked with. Old friends. Mentors from long ago.

Two coincidences are just uncanny. My oldest daughter (39) recently moved to the mid-cities area of DFW. While moving into the home they leased an older gentleman from next door went over and introduced himself. Come to find out he and I worked together as sales reps for a local Ready-Mix company in the late eighties - early 90s. He and I always got along real well, just lost touch over the years. Of the dozens of homes in multiple cities my daughter looked at, they chose the one right next door to Bill.

Then here's a big one: I found out that the Father of a woman I damned near married over 30 years ago recently passed. I contacted her to offer my condolences as her Dad and I were pretty close at the time. Come to find out her sister lives in the same small town that I live in and has for over 20 years. This girl is from OHIO. She lives one red light away from my house. We could have been standing in line at Target right next to each other sometime over that 20 year period. What is up with that?

I ran across someone just yesterday at the city council meeting that while we did not know each other, we have known the same acquaintances for over 20 twenty years. Went to the same church. When I went anyway.

How much smaller can the world get?

So once again I find myself ranting and rambling. Done that a lot lately. Been doing some reminiscing I guess due to these weird things happening.

I will soon be putting 58 years in my hip pocket. That really isn't THAT old but, it is the same age that my own Dad died. Maybe that has something to do with it. Or maybe the older we get the smaller that big "S" gets on our chest. Maybe the older we get we finally begin to learn that while we are vulnerable, there are many that are more so. Yet at the same time many close to us are dependent upon our presence in this world. Even if by only some small measure.

Heights are a problem for me. Hearing is shot. Ears ring 24/7. More medical issues than I should have at 58. I can't walk as far. Never could jump. Running these days is out of the question. Instead of springing out of bed I sit there for a minute as if I were taking inventory on my body parts and intellectual properties....LOL.

Getting older is OK...as the alternative ain't to good. I reck'on that typing full blown ramblings is part of it. Hopefully, some of the older FTE members will get it. If some of the young whippersnappers around here don't get it then..... UP YOURS!

Thanks, again, for everyone's indulgence....maybe I am just going through manopause.

 

Keith, that is a GREAT post!

Less than 2 weeks ago, I turned 57.

Without a long, long post (believe me, you're thanking me for not rambling on!), I can relate to everything you wrote, and I too, sit on the side of the bed and take inventory of the funtioning (and not-so-functioning) body parts, every morning!


Oh, and you're not going through manopause. . . . . our spouse(s)/significant others have menopause. . . we get WOMEN-pause!!! Ha!

 

Keith, Welcome to the realization of MORTALITY! At 58, you are still a young man (in my book) and you have many days left. Me, at 73 (in August) live life today as if every day is a holiday! Every meal is a banquet!

I consider myself very lucky.... got good genes. Mom passed at 97, grandfather at about the same. Retired from Navy at 37 years of age! Man, was THAT ever a great decision! Don't make a fortune with that retirement, but the medical bennies are really great!

Yes, I do understand where you are coming from. I too have a difficult time forgiving the a-holes that drive today.... but then I think of ME at a earlier time in my life!! Hey, that driver didn't cut it in as close as I used too!!! And when I think of all the stupid things I've done over the years - I think, WOW...am I ever lucky to be alive!

BTW, you're too young for men-o-pause!

 

I think it's called 'andropause.'
As for the rest of your post...
geeze, what a .........!
But seriously, I thought I was the only one that happened to (the tearing up part). And I'm not even close to fifty yet (46 this year).

I feel like I'm much more tuned in to my surroundings than I used to be. Maybe that's why everything seems to sound or look familiar- more so than it used to. I can't do the things I used to do, either, like the manual labor I did as a younger man. I wouldn't dream of doing that stuff today. When I hear on the news (and this is the example that came to mind, I'm not trying to hijack) that "Mexicans do the jobs Americans won't do," it angers me because I know that we did those very things growing up in rural Florida. I know that there's no way I could spend 12 hours a day in the hot sun, my body just won't handle it. But I can still spend the day in the yard doing some pretty tough stuff... I wear gloves now to protect my hands whe I'm working with bricks or cinder blocks (didn't when I was young and have perpetual callouses to show for it).

I hurt more than I used to: knees ache sometimes (especially if I drive for a few hours straight) and if my shoes aren't just right my feet will protest. I have pains that come from nowhere and go away just as quickly sometimes. I have some idea about how you feel.

I guess we all have to face the reality of growing older. But as long as we continue to wake up on the right side of the grass, it's gonna be OK.

 

"Gloooom, Dee-spair, and Agony on Me.......

Deep, Dark Depression, excessive Misereeeeeee.......

If it weren't for Bad Luck, I'd have no luck at all...........

Gloooom, Dee-spair, and Agony on Me....."......(cue the Hee Haw boys sobbing in unison....)

Keith, you rock, man......These last coupla threads were golden! (haha).

You'll make it. Minor bump in the road.

 

Dear Indugu, ...




If you have not watched this, please do. It is strange but funny. You may be able to relate. I do things as you describe daily and can relate to this movie.

 

Interesting movie. But, you should warn people, you will see Kathy Bates naked. I had nightmares for weeks.

Enjoyed your rant, KW.

 

Great post Keith. I think the older we get, the smaller our world becomes simply because we meet more and more people, especially if our job involves traveling. (KW, you need to call me if you ever get up this way again) While I am a few years younger, I don't jump out of bed like I used to either.

 

Nice post! It reminds me of a Dr Seuss book: Amazon.com: You're Only Old Once! A Book for Obsolete Children (9780394551906): Dr. Seuss: Books This is a great tribute written by the great "Dr" in his Seuss way of writing. If you have 15 bucks burning a hole in your pocket....this is a book for your collection!

Bud, you are 73...."and a half"? I don't "check out old men" but you are in pretty good shape for your age. I would've never guessed it.

 

This is an awesome thread!

I'll be 50 in July. I retired from the Coast Guard 7 years ago in July at 43. After riding ships and leading a fairly sedentary lifestyle as a senior enlisted person, I was really out of shape.

I've been carrying mail for nearly 6 years. I walk 12 miles per day and though I'm not as thin and light as I should be, I'm in better physical condition than I was when I was 43. And yes, I'm stiff all over int he mornings but it wears off pretty quick. How long will I be blessed with that? Who knows.

I too tear up over the national anthem, the death of a military person, seeing my grandson and daughter and the thought of youngest leaving the nest next year.

I grew up fairly poor and had to work like hell to get anything as a kid. Now I have a little money saved, a good job, a retirement income and hopefully a great comfortable future with my bride of 24 years.

There's a fella here on FTE, his handle is Klook and he's from East Machias, Maine. We know many of the same folks and his cousin was my 4th grade teacher.

Likewise my first supervisor was also from Maine. Her mom and my mom went to school together. Her dad and my dad worked in the mill together but we never knew each other.

The world is not as big as people think it is. Sorry for the long post gents.

 

Enjoyed your posts. I have also learned to be more sympathic, to enjoy people more, and to be more tolerant. I was told by a great friend that, in life, you don't sweat the small things, and everything is a small thing!

 

72 and 1/2 son...don't make me older than I already yam!!!
73 in August....

...and thank you very much!

 

lol, sorry Bud! I need to pay more attention, hehehe

 

That first post was great!
Reps sent.
I turned 54 in January.

 

Sounds like you guys need to watch "The Bucketlist"...

Awesome movie with Morgan Freeman, and Jack Nicholson.....

-Wes