Mark and all of us here at FTE;

We work so hard all of our lives to support our families (grateful to have them) and when we get to a point that we can do the things we want to do for ourselves, our bodies make it difficult.

That's getting old. I was a journeyman auto technician for 20 years. I went to work for the state at 40 but by then my back was already bad. I drove a desk for about 18 years before my back surgery and retired at 62.

My 6 year project to build my 51 F1 has me at 7 years but 2 of the years I was out of commission with the back.

I keep plugging away and you will too. Retirement is great and I look forward to my time in the garage. I look forward to the day I get it done, but I am just having fun building it.

Enjoy it all. Do things with the wife and family. Enjoy your truck and the time you have in the shop.

Make the best of all of it.

Take care

Dan

 

Mark, I am 57 and my back made me go on disability about 3 years or so. It has been bad since an injury about 10 years back. I understand you got to do what you got to do. It hurts not being able to do what you want to. Enjoy your time off.

 

I would often gaze out my office window to escape the mental pressure from my job in computers. I would ponder how much easier my life would have been using my hands rather than my mind. If I had a skill like welding or fabrication, I would not be faced with the constant changes in technology and the mental pressures of keeping astride. How wrong I was.

I did not factor in the wear and tear to your physical being. I did not think about innovations that affect every job vocation. I was merely engaged in escapism; the grass is always greener in someone else's field.

One day the door to your livelihood closes. For some, we have no say as to when that happens. Saying goodbye to a job that puts food on your table is difficult; saying goodbye to a job you love is harder.

The good news is that there are many new doors to open and explore. However, the first step is to maintain your health. With the advances in the medical field, we have a much better chance at longevity. You have made the right decision to slow down. But as others have stated, keep your mind active. Make every day a day that you can look back on and smile because you accomplished something.

Welcome to your new world. I have been living in it for nearly fifteen years now and have grown quite fond of it.

 

Thank you all for ALL of the words of encouragement! That is one of the things that makes this forum SO GREAT!
Thanks again!
Mark

 

Amen, Jim. Thank you! We can trust Him as He knows and desires what is best for us!
I would love to drive to Truckstock one of these days.
Thanks again,Mark

 

That was my original plan, Abe. But now, since my back issues have progressed quicker than I expected, I have filed for a Social Security disability.
Thanks again, Mark

 

Thank you, Joe. I have had verses 11-13 highlighted in my bible for a long time, but you had me look at them again in context. Paul is telling us, in vs11-12, that he has learned humility so that, he can do all things thru Christ, v13. But, v13 also gives us the strength to live out vs11-12. I never looked at it like that before. Amazing, thank you!
Mark

 

Ben, I was telling my wife at breakfast about all the kind words I have received on the forum in reply to my post. I was telling her your reply just as she took a sip of coffee. She about choked then started laughing. She said she did a visual of me competing for Miss Drumsticks. She said it wasn't pretty!
Have you been to Turkey Trot? We usually go to the Rusty Wheels tractor show in Harrison, about 40 miles away, on that weekend. If you are ever up this way you need to stop in.
I hope to get the truck done and drive the wheels off of it!
Thanks, Mark

 

I retired three years ago, and while not in the trades like you were, I did quite a bit of restoration work on all of my cars over the years. I am too old to do that anymore (too hard to get on the floor and get back up) but I still get into my shop tinker now and then and I have taken up wood working to fill the gap since that can be done standing up. I am in the process of building 8 windows for our N6b PRR caboose we are restoring. After that, I will rebuild the end doors for it.

Later!
Mr. Ed

 

Hey Mark,
I think your wife is being a little critical....I think you stand a
good shot at winning the Miss Drumsticks Contest! Wear your
coveralls & pull those legs up ...they don't stand a chance! I have
been to the Turkey Trot.... It was a lot of fun. You live in a wonderful area.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

You haven't seen my fat hairy legs, but maybe they would be an advantage.
We do live in a beautiful area!
Mark

 

Mark, So Sorry to hear about your back not being able to handle the shop. I’d love to have your tools and Machinist knowledge. But ya never know what’s around the corner. Like Joe said “every day is an adventure”.
Got the email notice for “The Ozark Mountain Run” the other day hopefully we can all catch up with each other again this year. Maybe we’ll all even have our trucks.

 

Mark I’m sorry for your pain and having to slow down because of it. I’ve lived with bad knees and a destroyed shoulder since I got injured playing college football. My body has more zipper scars than a drawer full of blue jeans. At last count 17 operations to keep me Mobil upright and plugging away. My back is so full of arthritis from using my head as a battering ram the neurosurgeon told my wife to drop me at the horse vets and have me put down as there is nothing anyone can do to fix it. I wear braces on both legs in order to walk. I take a number of pills each day to dull the pain. That’s all ok I’m still upright, I get to be with my wife everyday. I see and talk too my daughter on a regular basis. I enjoy the two pups as my riding buddies. I can work on the beast for a few hours at a time. I get to enjoy cars & coffee and other car related events. Life isn’t perfect but it’s my life and I still enjoy it. I hope you will be able to do so also. Give it your best effort as I don’t think the alternative is an option anyone really wants. Think of this as just another phase in a pretty good life. Have fun.

 

Maybe one of these fancy creeper's would keep you going?
We could fabricate some add-on's maybe?

 

Mark one of the benefits of having a back like this is you can become the neighborhood entertainment. If I leave the garage door open and get down on the floor to get under the car to fix something it always attracts a few of the guys to watch. The entertainment starts when I try to get up off the floor. Someone always ask if they can help me get up. I say no just enjoy the site and try not to laugh too hard. Then the ideas of how to get up start coming. You would not believe some of the ideas these guys say I should try. Hoist from the ceiling, spring loaded platforms I can crawl onto and release. The more they come up with the harder we all laugh and of course it just makes it harder to get up. If someone opens the fridge and breaks out the beer it gets totally out of hand. Hope your condition allows you to have fun in your retirement