it happens to all of us.Marc - 3-29-2012 at 06:17 PM
Been thinkin' a lot about that lately.wessongroup - 3-29-2012 at 06:30 PM
YesBigOly - 3-29-2012 at 06:40 PM
Someday we'll all be "has-bins", just don't be a "never-was".
[Edited on 3-30-2012 by BigOly]rhintransit - 3-29-2012 at 06:48 PM
hey, as long as you can still drive down to Loreto, you're not old!
see you soon-ishKen Bondy - 3-29-2012 at 07:26 PM
The "Golden Years" - such a scam. Grossly overrated.Osprey - 3-29-2012 at 07:41 PM
Olding
Through The Learning Channel, Discovery and National Geographic I stay in touch with the world. So much to see and be amazed by. Recently I learned
that early man had very short life spans -- Cro-Magnon, Neanderthal both about 40 years on average. I’ve known for a while the sad statistics of the
short life expectancy of people in countries like Niger (29) or Uganda (33) and others ravaged by drought, disease, war.
I live in Mexico. Life expectancy here, for a man, is 68.42. I turned 73 years old in October. I’ve already beat the curve for a lot of countries.
Now that I have, I begin to feel another kind of sympathy for those who die young, before their time --- whatever the hell that means.
When I was a young man, I did youthful, energetic things. Now I can wallow in the sloth of old age, do all the things old people are famous for. I
shall always consider myself lucky to have lived long enough to reach this age, live in this way.
Those unlucky souls who died while still very young, who were simply worn out, worn down by the conditions under which they lived and labored could
only have their youth to remember. I give them no dishonor when I speculate that a man of 35 years, living in a country where his life expectancy is
age 40, does not consider himself old by my standards. He will die before he can look old, feel old, be old. That’s the sad part.
He will never feel the pleasure of the complaint. His ills and ailments will never become his welcome bedmates, his friends and constant companions.
This man can never know the satisfaction of being the victim of time, the joy of grousing about how ageing gnaws away at the body and the mind.
It is not possible for a young man to fully appreciate the satisfaction in scolding, chiding, advising a 50 year old son or daughter -- a special
kind of fulfillment found in sharing one’s hard-won wisdom with the foolish, wrong-headed youngster. One of life’s precious secrets, learned at the
age of 25 is no more than a fuzzy footnote to the sum and substance that man would take to the grave if he died a mere 15 years later.
The same secret, about women, politics, the human condition, carried about, polished, cleaned, tuned for 60 years, takes on the importance, the
majesty of The Rosetta Stone, Hammurabi’s book of laws.
What of serious dialectic, discussion, argument? The young-old man has only children to talk with, to lecture to. A man of 80 or more years can and
will argue with anyone who has ears, vocal chords, a tongue and soft palate, lips. His most eloquent pronouncements are soliloquies -- what we
sometimes hear as mutterings, gibberish, are actually arguments won and lost with the master of the argument, the old man himself.
I’m coming of age myself. Last year I took some visitors, friends and family from the states, fishing in my little boat. We saw some marlin that
wouldn’t bite, caught two small tuna. Rays were jumping everywhere. One of the youngsters asked me why the manta rays jumped. I said “because they
can.”
Later that day my grandson Greg said “Grampa, why don’t we all go down to the beach, go for a swim?”
I said. “Because I don’t have to. Because I don’t want to.”
A statement not so much of prerogative but, considered against the millions who can never make such a gruff and gritty rejoinder, an obligatory
declaration.
He probably mis-read my grin. He doesn’t know what it means when I rub my big belly with both hands, grin that way, open another beer. He‘s lousy
at current events, geography. He doesn‘t know about the young-old people in Gambia, Ethiopia.
He’s 11 years old, lives in San Diego. Tomorrow he and I are going for a ride on the beach in my dunebuggie, sit and fish awhile. By the time we
get back to the house he’ll know just how lucky he was to be born in a place where they let you live as long as you want.Barry A. - 3-29-2012 at 08:31 PM
Osprey--------------That is just outstanding!!!!!
Barrywessongroup - 3-29-2012 at 08:36 PM
Thanks ... a nice visit to your world ... bbbait - 3-30-2012 at 04:18 AM
Osprey, I usually don't read your yarns. But thanks for making something out of this thread. Good reading!paranewbi - 3-30-2012 at 07:02 AM
It's all in your head...
Late 50's
Still ride a short board
1 semester away from new career
My young classmates come to me for help with studies
Never going to retire full time
Just opt to work when I want toSkeet/Loreto - 3-30-2012 at 07:58 AM
"Old"'
I think the Good Lord for taking me to nearly 81 years young and still going pretty good until last Week when I got a Blood Clot did 3 days in the
Horsepital!! Released yesterday and feeling as if I can still do my Chores, Drive my Car.
The biggest Problem I have with getting "old" is the Acceptance of the changes in the upcoming Generations.It has been difficul for me as I have
always been one to Work Hard, be Honest, treat people well and I would be successful in Life. That has happened to me except for the Acceptance of
all of the "Faults" that I think the New Generations have such as Drug Use, Lack of Morals, no self Discipline, No respect for Authority. Dependence
of Govt. etc.
I have made a Vow to try much harder to try and understand these young people who do nothing but punch Buttons and communicate all day long. Do not
even "Look Up" to see where they are going or where they have been!!!!
I wish the Luck and hope they can get as "Old" as I am.vandenberg - 3-30-2012 at 08:48 AM
Getting there !!Barry A. - 3-30-2012 at 08:52 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Bondy
The "Golden Years" - such a scam. Grossly overrated.
(shsssssh----were not supposed to talk about that, Ken)
Barry
Old
David K - 3-30-2012 at 09:02 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by rockmanOld
What's up, Norm?
You are only as old as you feel... and lately I feel that getting old is way over rated! bufeo - 3-30-2012 at 09:36 AM
Good one Bufeo... I hadn't seen that one until I read your reply!sancho - 3-30-2012 at 02:31 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by paranewbi
Still ride a short board
I kinda bypassed the short board revo in, what was it
1970'ish, kept with the long.
Osprey, You are without a doubt the Poet, Scholar,
Creative Writer of this group, I don't know of a second
place, I don't always digest
all your musings, but the above post had even me
contemplatingGaucho - 3-30-2012 at 04:57 PM
I'm so old I remember when rainbows were black and white! acadist - 3-30-2012 at 06:18 PM
feelin' it today, 49 tomorrowDewey - 3-30-2012 at 06:29 PM
I can't remember when I was 49!
Old
toneart - 3-31-2012 at 12:07 AM
I'm at the age where I measure my Baja trips, not by kilometers, hours, landmarks, monuments, towns or restaurants, but by pee stops!bajalera - 4-3-2012 at 09:43 AM
In a dimly lit bar, I can sometimes pass for only 87.David K - 4-3-2012 at 09:44 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
In a dimly lit bar, I can sometimes pass for only 87.
Thanks Baja Lera... you rock!willardguy - 4-3-2012 at 10:12 AM
youth is wasted on the young. george bernard shawOso - 4-3-2012 at 04:20 PM
Yeah, it sux. But when it comes down to it it beats the alternative.Udo - 4-3-2012 at 06:16 PM
Living in Baja will make anyone feel YOUNG, regardless of how old one is.
