Of age and other things

[StickFish]

I will tell you want crustaceans are a superior form of life. If a limb on a crab messes up they grow a new one. I have to tell you I'm feeling and seeing the years.

Roll back to December, torn everything, depression (insert the sad MAC), couldn't eve lift a coffee cup and not feel it tear my elbow out. Climb back on the horse in March, manage a showing at State and PNW Regionals. Felt great going into regionals, took on the #1 seed in the first round in 30+ Open Doubles and took them to a tie break - gassed them so bad they lost the next round (HUGE boost when I heard that). Stomped a team I owned a couple to and felt pretty good early Sunday morning. Later that day - walking was very difficult - crap!

Last week Dad was here - driving down town, just a little too much pressure turning the steering wheel and - KERBOOM my elbow lets loose - were talking tears and dead stop in the middle of the intersection. Lucky no tear in the forearm from this one, but oh the epicondile is way sore.

Had a few reflective moments about age these last few distracted days. While my Dad was here, it was the first time I saw his age in his eyes. I remember that lazy left eye from his Mom, this was the first time I saw it in his eyes. I have always been fascinated by peoples eyes and what I saw in them, jolly, hate, free spirit, fun loving, a child's wondering eye (I'm still writing that song) and his mother's piercing gaze, real and unreal.

Just feeling it I guess - back to you normally unscheduled programing

[Thumper]

Aging is not for the weak.

At 40 I ran a fair-sized corporation (500 employees), consulted around the U.S. for others, guided three days a week and handed off business to several other guides. Never felt tired.

At 67 I still work, mostly for fun, but have barely enough energy to hook the boat up and fish a day or two a week.

In your 60s you will still exercise if you are smart, mostly to keep the bones and what few muscles remain, working. If you stop exercising, pretty soon you sit and vegetate, and I ain't gonna do that!

Look at the young and their boundless energies. Yes, youth is truly wasted on the young.

I think that the key to aging "gracefully" is to remain young at heart. Laugh a lot. Few older people seem to laugh very much.

I plan to laugh all the way. My role model is Jennie. Now there is a gal who will age gracefully.

[PIR8 Hook]

Yep it is not for the faint of heart! I turn 51 tomorrow...If I'd known I'd live this long I would have taken better care of myself....

[Jaws]

Slid into 50 last year with the usual bumps and bruises. Nothing to serious, just the usual sports injurys and stuff. Since then, in the last 7 months, I have had 3 heart attacks, 4 stents, and 5 angiagrams. Lost most of my energy and hope I get it back soon!!! Ahhh, to be 49 again!!

[Joe Schwab]

67! Cripes Jack, I thought I was the only one that old! I was down at the beach fishing a while back and had just been to the doctor for the umpteenth time. I mentioned it to a local and he replied "wait till you get my age." I asked him how old he was. He replied 54. I just laughed and told him when I was 54 I was running two trips a day guiding in Alaska, running a lodge and chopping firewood in between digging clams and cooking.

I still feel young although the body has it's subtle ways of reminding me to take it easier. I'm not giving up yet.

[Just_learning]

Originally Posted by Capt. Hook

67! Cripes Jack, I thought I was the only one that old! I was down at the beach fishing a while back and had just been to the doctor for the umpteenth time. I mentioned it to a local and he replied "wait till you get my age." I asked him how old he was. He replied 54. I just laughed and told him when I was 54 I was running two trips a day guiding in Alaska, running a lodge and chopping firewood in between digging clams and cooking.

I still feel young although the body has it's subtle ways of reminding me to take it easier. I'm not giving up yet.

It just goes to show you how "busy" people stay healthy. Simple working out isnt enough, always thinking and doing is a big part of staying healthy.

Congrats and hopefully many more productive years in good health

[Hogmaster]

As I continue to age, and break down with the inevivable processes associated with it, there is a discovery that seems to hold true.

I can continue to be active and be sore.

Or I can not be active and be sore.

It sucks when a piece of body blows up, tears, breaks or dislodges for sure. But when you look at people who are older, the ones that are vibrant seem to carry two attributes:

1) They are generally happy people who can laugh.

And

2) They stay active, within the confines of what their bodies will allow them to do.

So, like the Black Knight in "The Holy Grail", I will be out there defending the {court} until the end!

"No ball shall pass!"

[StickFish]

I hear you Gary, I've experienced a few months over the last year without Racquetball and I do not intend to give that up ever again. I'm just going to have to stick to doubles and no more singles. Its taking me two to three days to get over playing an open singles league match.

I think another key to aging well besides staying active physically, is also being mentally active. Whether it be strategic games, or challenging puzzles, the one gray muscle that we have needs to exercise everyday. My dad has recently started doing this, but both my sister and I have noticed odd items that he forgets. Like calling me on Weds and saying its been a long time since we talked - he left on Friday and I talked to him Saturday and Sunday. All I can say is I hope I'm in as good a physical shape as he is when I'm 83.

[PIR8 Hook]

Yeah...growing old is manditory, Growing UP is optional! ( & I hear it's highly over-rated)

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by PIR8 Hook

Yeah...growing old is manditory, Growing UP is optional! ( & I hear it's highly over-rated)

I'm not touching the growing up part, couple of kindred spirits of mine said it best. "My misplaced childhood is rising to speak his mind. To this orphan of heartbreak, disillusioned and scarred. A refugee."

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by Hogmaster

As I continue to age, and break down with the inevivable processes associated with it, there is a discovery that seems to hold true.

I can continue to be active and be sore.

Or I can not be active and be sore.

It sucks when a piece of body blows up, tears, breaks or dislodges for sure. But when you look at people who are older, the ones that are vibrant seem to carry two attributes:

1) They are generally happy people who can laugh.

And

2) They stay active, within the confines of what their bodies will allow them to do.

So, like the Black Knight in "The Holy Grail", I will be out there defending the {court} until the end!

"No ball shall pass!"

I keep waiting for the day I have to use the crab davit to get you in and out of the boat.

[Mad Mikey]

Is this what I have to look forward to? Cripes!

I'm doing OK so far, except I can't run long distance much anymore. Used to put down 50+ miles/week until the knee/foot blew up. I still get in some hiking time but man do I miss running.

And get this, I turn 40 on Friday the 13th!!!!(June)

Is this a bad sign?

[Hogmaster]

Originally Posted by fish_on

I keep waiting for the day I have to use the crab davit to get you in and out of the boat.

You'll need to use it on Jimmy before me. I can jump at least!

Mikey, I was 40 yesterday. Really. It seems amazing in merely the dozen years since yesterday I have broken my finger playing softball (in the mitt!), broken a rib and hand in a small incident with a Tri-Met sign, had two shoulder surgeries (one of each), 6 hours of middle ear surgery next to my brain, various other marks, welts and whatnot, and the minor back breakage in December, just to name some of the things that come to mind.

The point?

It doesn't get any better, dude. It just goes faster!

[Kalamity]

This post couldn't come at a better time. I'll be 30 this November and have been thinking a lot about what I have accomplished and what I still have yet on my list... I have a few bulging disks in my back and have come to accept the fact there are things I can no longer do as easy. Some days getting dressed is a chore. I feel the soreness in my muscles when just 3 years ago I was pushing the limits and never had an ache.

I have put on a lot of weight due to the fact of the pain in my back. But I woke up the other day and decided I am gonna fight through it! I won't let that pain rule my life!

My Dad, who is 68, lives with me until he finds a place (I bought the house I grew up in). I see him come home from driving log truck every day, put his stuff away and head out the door to do SOMETHING! Either doing yard work, working on the truck, or any number of things. Last summer, fall and into this spring, he has moved 7 loads of rock by hand and has more to go. He still splits firewood so that we may stay warm during the winter.

I am amazed at the way he just goes and does it all. And it's true. To look into someones eyes will tell you so much. Staying young at heart is the key to staying young. I've learned as I age to take every day as it comes and to learn something every day. The hobbies I've picked up along the way (fishing, hunting deer, elk, hopefully turkey and ducks, tanning hides, playing guitar) have brought out a liitle more animation in him too. The stories that make his eyes light up as he tells them... I see the young man in there still.

I see how raising my brothers and I have aged him over the years.... I see my grandparents sometimes when I look at him. It's strange.

Sorry for the rambling. But a lot of this topic has been on my mind lately.

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by Kalamity

Sorry for the rambling. But a lot of this topic has been on my mind lately.

Rambling nothing. Disks are a huge deal, drop some of that weight without exercise and you will feel better guaranteed.