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They Never Told Me It Was Going to Be Like This... (Long Rant)

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  • gdr_11

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 1, 2014
    2,895
    96
    Well, I am 71 years old today and am sitting here in my home office with the heating pad on my back and doped up on Alleve because I threw my back out again. Yesterday was the first nice day in a while and I though I would pick up the massive leaf drop from my Live Oaks after the recent storms. Made the foolish mistake of pulling a tarp of wet leaves about 100 yards out to the burn barrel now I am walking around like a monkey humping a football.

    The bad news is that I can no longer do half of what I used to and the other half that I can still do I need to use my head more than my muscles otherwise I end up like I am today. The good news is that I have done a lot, seen a lot and have generally lived a pretty good life so I have no regrets. Men in my family usually live to ages 83-85 so I have some time left on the clock hopefully. As old men tend to do, I wanted to waste some of your time with my thoughts today.

    - There used to be a time when I could gather a small crowd at the range with my shooting skills. I liked to take a pair of scissors and cut down my pistol targets until there was only a black circle about 3” across and then put it out at 25 yards and put five rounds into the middle from my 1911. I could also do a decent job of keeping my .41 Mag. rounds in the black at 100 yards and would go head to head with some of my friends and their rifles as long as they used iron sights offhand. Now, I only shoot at 10 years in order to keep my self defense skills up and I tend to tear up my targets and throw them in the trash instead of framing them like I used to. But, I have my memories.

    - I used to stay up all night and then hit the duck blinds at 5 am. Now, when the sun goes down so do I and I wonder if I will see the dawn.

    - A good nights sleep used to mean 8 hours. Now, it means getting 2-3 hours before getting up to take a leak.

    - I used to scramble up and down creek banks to get to fishing spots no one else could. A couple of years ago I slid face down over 50 ft. of river rock and now I don’t go out without a walking stick.

    - The only wood I see is what I have stacked out back for the fireplace.

    And, I could go on and on. But, the fact is that I can sit here and smile when I consider the things I have done, the places I have gone, the women I have loved and the peace I found in my later years.

    Today I am going to Saltgrass to have a nice steak dinner then I will retire to my office and watch a couple of hours of Hank Williams Jr, music from his earliest to his last. Old Bosephus and I are the same age and I can identify with some his life transitions, plus his music speaks to my aging heart.

    My hats off to my older TGT brothers and, to you younger guys, your day is coming so make the most of life while you can!

    God Bless!!
     

    plinkr

    Active Member
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Feb 18, 2019
    285
    26
    US
    Happy birthday to you sir,
    and congratulations for seeing your blessings rather than focus on the difficulties that come with age. I think it was Bette Davis who, in her 90s, said "old age is no place for sissies".

    Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk
     

    Lonesome Dove

    A man of vision but with no mission.
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 25, 2018
    5,859
    96
    Cut n Shoot, Texas
    Happy Birthday!!

    I learned at the age of 3o something to live everyday like it’s your last. Listen to no one other than yourself. The day comes with no warning.
     
    Last edited:

    Dawico

    Uncoiled
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Oct 15, 2009
    38,007
    96
    Lampasas, Texas
    Happy Birthday.

    Not near your age but I have definitely learned what I can't do anymore. It sucks to look at something I would have tackled in my youth knowing I would pay with days of pain trying to do it now.

    Enjoy and take it easy.
     

    dsgrey

    Well-Known
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Oct 25, 2015
    1,873
    96
    Denton County
    Happy Birthday and I fully understand slowing down though I'm 14 years younger. Some things I no longer do but anything low risk I continue to do just so I can have that freedom. Helping one of the kids move next weekend but my only job will be driving the truck. I gave up the heavy lifting job 2 years ago when me & the spouse moved knowing I'm more prone to hurting myself. I'll let the young ones do that!
     

    baboon

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    May 6, 2008
    22,463
    96
    Out here by the lake!
    Happy birthday!! Cheers to you as you got 11 years on me.

    Seen my doctor last Wednesday for an annual. Being self insured right now means they weighed me, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, a few listening to the chest with the stethoscope. My doctor somewhat confirmed I have my very first hernia @ 60 years old.

    Blew off the chest ex-ray, EKG, blood work, urine work & ultrasound to comfirm the hernia. I had him fill out my paper work for my handicapped vehicle tags.

    Next morning I squeezed into the wifes car, blocking my truck to get my placards @ the tax office. Got there 15 minutes early to stand in the cold rain. Came back home & was cold all day. Nothing seemed to take the chill out & the aches & pain followed. Did not sleep for shit that night either.

    I was going to take a 3.5 hour drive to the country to help celebrate an older friends birthday, but my sciatica was killing me. Yes indeed its hell to get old & adding to much fat don't help.
     

    Charlie

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Mar 19, 2008
    65,572
    96
    'Top of the hill, Kerr County!
    Happy birthday to you! Mine was a week ago (+/-). I'm a little older than you but, like you, I'm staying as active as I can. I've got CRS (can't remember stuff) but not too bad .......... wait, what were we talking about. :green: You going to the "meet" in April?
     

    BRD@66

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 23, 2014
    10,773
    96
    Liberty Hill
    I had a friend from Little League days who died at age 30. Amazingly, he never complained about aches & pains. Happy birthday young'n.
     
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