Old Farts: Share Your Experiences Here

[Ivan Seeking]

Okay, this is a thread for old farts to complain about aging.

You know who you are.



Well, maybe the thread shouldn't be quite so limited, but two things have been bothering me lately. First, teeth. I had a leaky crown that has caused all sorts of problems. It has taken over a year to get this all fully resolved. Every time I have to go to the dentist it makes me feel old.

The really tough one is watching family members and friends grow old. My parents are both old enough and in poor enough health to be a daily concern. Tsu's mom is already gone, and her dad is also a constant concern. Also, my best buddy, my longest friend in life, is now 80. Frankly, every time he doesn't answer the phone [as happened 5 minutes ago] I worry. He has been close to death a couple of times already, and I think he now has four terminal illnesses. But I understand from him, being that he has out lived all of his oldest friends less one - me - that watching your friends go is the hardest thing of all. For about fifteen years, talking with Jim was to get the latest on funeral services.

Anyway, not to be too depressing, but maybe a few people have something to say about getting old.

 

[Moonbear]

Anyway, not to be too depressing, but maybe a few people have something to say about getting old.

Just one thing to say...it's the one thing in life worth procrastinating on. I was going to say just don't do it, but the alternative doesn't seem much better.

 

[The_Professional]

Funerals..illnesses...getting old, thanks for getting me worried. Anything else?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Funerals..illnesses...getting old, thanks for getting me worried. Anything else?

Other than all of the gas, not really.

 

[Danger]

Other than all of the gas, not really.

I didn't know that you get gas, but you've certainly caused more than your share.

 

[Evo]

Living in the time I did, a lot of my friends are dead from drugs. The few lucky live ones are serving life sentences for drug traficking.

I don't do drugs. I enjoy the things around me. I love meeting new people, even if over the internet. So many great people out here to get to know. They make me laugh and make me realize that there is so much to learn and laugh abought and understand.

I'm not that old, none of us are. Based on the longevity in my family, I will be fully cognizant for another 50 years, at least. And then some.

 

[Astronuc]

Still too young to die, but never too old to Rock & Roll.

There certainly is the issue of the mortality of my parents generation. All the grandparents are gone. My wife's uncles are all gone, and a few aunts.

My only problem is that it can take weeks to heal when I get banged up. I got 'thwacked' by a tree. I was moving a fallen tree (it was hanging over the road near my house) to the side. So, it being a pretty dead tree, I got the brilliant idea of lifting the end and running with it, by which I planned to snapped the trunk (the base was jammed between two other trees). Well the 'dead' tree still had some strength. When my feet got onto the shoulder, I slipped, the tree recoiled, and I got thrown about 10 feet back onto the pavement and landed on my hip. OUCH! It took about 3 weeks for the pain and stiffness to subside.

It wasn't as bad as falling out of a tree and hitting the ground sideways, or breaking the fall of one my mates (all 230 lbs of him) with my chest. Those took a few months for the internal bruising to heal.

Oh, well, perhaps it's time to slow down . . . .




Nah!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I'm not that old, none of us are. Based on the longevity in my family, I will be fully cognizant for another 50 years, at least. And then some.

Now come on, you all see those worrisome little things. You know what they are. Fess up.

 

[Janitor]

I mail-ordered some music CDs, including one by the Anita Kerr Singers. Some kind soul at the warehouse tucked in an A.A.R.P. membership blank for me.

 

[zoobyshoe]

A year ago April I turned 49, and for some reason that number didn't bother me a bit. This year, however, I decided to turn 28 on my birthday. I suggested the same tactic to Evo.

Horror stories: I frighten myself by continually having the same thought pop into my head when I look in the mirror lately, that if I just get a really good night's sleep some of these wrinkles will clear up. Also: if I just make some kind of change in my diet some of this thinning hair will probably thicken back up.

Then there's the Homer Simpson syndrome that kicks in where, the vow to live your life to the fullest means you are going to eat two of those disgustingly sweet, creme-filled doughnuts.

 

[Evo]

Now come on, you all see those worrisome little things. You know what they are. Fess up.

No wrinkles for me yet. I take after my grandmother ...smooth skin. All of those years hiding from the sun, being white as a ghost have paid off.

Yep, zooby and I are 28.

 

[zoobyshoe]

No wrinkles for me yet...
Yep, zooby and I are 28.

Thing is, you actually look 28. I am dependent on shakey camera work, grainy film, and a full body costume for my youthful appearance.

 

[Moonbear]

Thing is, you actually look 28. I am dependent on shakey camera work, grainy film, and a full body costume for my youthful appearance.

LOL! I thought 29 was a good age, so I stopped counting after that.

 

[zoobyshoe]

LOL! I thought 29 was a good age, so I stopped counting after that.

29 is good. To be honest, nothing between 40 and 49 bothered me in the least, and I would have been happy if I could have frozen my age anywhere in there for the rest of my life.

 

[Kakarot]

bah don't worry one of these days one of you scientists are going to make the shot that makes us immortal but then the religious people will come into picture

 

[Danger]

but then the religious people will come into picture

Naw... they won't want to mess with 'the plan', so they'll just go ahead and die out. Evolution in action.

 

[Huckleberry]

Thing is, you actually look 28. I am dependent on shakey camera work, grainy film, and a full body costume for my youthful appearance.

Things are becoming clear now. This is why you have such an affinity for William Shatner masks and Breasted Gorilla suits. What is the infatuation with weird purple jellyfish all about?

 

[gnome]

It wasn't as bad as falling out of a tree and hitting the ground sideways, or breaking the fall of one my mates (all 230 lbs of him) with my chest. Those took a few months for the internal bruising to heal.

Oh, well, perhaps it's time to slow down . . . .

I hope you didn't drop the bong...

My most constant reminder of age is what it's done to my eyes -- constantly swapping glasses, & never seeing quite right anymore.

Knees complain more than they used to, but since I went back to school I don't have time to run as much anyway. But there's no escaping the eye thing. It's a real insult.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Things are becoming clear now. This is why you have such an affinity for William Shatner masks and Breasted Gorilla suits. What is the infatuation with weird purple jellyfish all about?

If you can get back to about page 50 of the stupid quetions and read through the next 3 or 4 pages you will learn the origins of Alfred Einstein's Jellitivity as well as some info about Jelliphysics in general.

 

[zoobyshoe]

My most constant reminder of age is what it's done to my eyes -- constantly swapping glasses, & never seeing quite right anymore.

Damn, you're right! I forgot to even mention this bifocals versus two separate pair thing that eaten up so much money. I feel like I haven't seen one thing in the world clearly for at least five years.

 

[hypatia]

I will be 49 this year too. My eyes are kinda fuzzy in the AM, but then clear up as the day goes by. At night, my left knee and ankle start to ache, too many ski accidents I guess.
I find getting old is not so bad.

 

[Astronuc]

Knees complain more than they used to, but since I went back to school I don't have time to run as much anyway. But there's no escaping the eye thing. It's a real insult.

At night, my left knee and ankle start to ache, . . . .

The joints definitely. Knees hurt if I sit too long - occupational hazard of working on a computer. I usually go for a walk during the day just to get all my joints moving.

I developed a moderate case of carpal tunnel syndrome in my left arm. I did exercises to overcome it and learn to position my arm differently.

I now do some moderate weight-training, which I will increase with time, and I need to be more consistent with stretching excercises.

I hope you didn't drop the bong...

?? Not sure what that means. No drugs involved.

I was in a tree to collect pine cones for a project. The branch I was holding snapped, and I had an unplanned exit from the tree. My feet got caught on a lower branch and I rotated to head down. I extended my right elbow just before I hit the ground, which protected my head. The elbow hit soft ground and left a 3" depression. I hit in the order of elbow, shoulder/head, rib-cage, hip and legs. The hip and legs hit rock, but my ribcage had already absorbed most of the energy. I definitely felt internal organs shifting sideways, but nothing tore loose.

As for breaking the fall of my friend, that was during a volley ball game. We went (jumped) for the ball simultaneously. I hit the ground first, he followed and sat on my chest and diaphragm. That too was rather painful, but fortunately no broken ribs.

 

[Echo 6 Sierra]

I hate it when I wake up and something hurts for no apparent reason. Then there's that sound I make when I have to get out of a chair or off the couch. I get called "Old School" by fellow students and get the side-to-side "buddy hug" by co-eds which means ...you're sweet but don't even think about it, you're my Dads age. Whatever happened to 25? BTW, if the cute, freckle-faced girl that wears scrubs from the Chem class before my Calc class is reading this...DANG! All I said was hi. (she smells like cookies and has a neck that you could just BITE:!) )REAAAARRRGGGHHH!

 

[Kenneth Mann]

bah don't worry one of these days one of you scientists are going to make the shot that makes us immortal but then the religious people will come into picture

They'll have a lot of company. Think about it. First the 'shot' would be offered to only the wealthy the famous, politicians, scientists, etc. for a lot of money. Then, however those who champion all sorts of causes would scream that the poor are being exploited again, so great effort would be expended to provide for everyone. Then the population would really, really explode and living standards would plummet. Then economists, environmentalists and a whole bunch of others would queue up with those religious people.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

'Old' is a little bit older than I am.

 

[BobG]

Yep, zooby and I are 28.

I'm more honest than that. It doesn't bother me a bit to tell people I'm 31.

I'd have to agree watching my parents get older bothers me more than my age. My Dad has Parkinson's disease and that really bothers me and age is finally catching up with my mother-in-law. She's a widow and should have retired a long time ago, but being 'essential' due to knowing just about everything about what her department has ever done really adds something to her life. If her health problems keep on and she has to finally quit working, I don't know what will happen to her.

The main effects for me are those 'minor' bumps and bruises turn into months long annoyances and that 'outdoorsy' complexion is starting to just look old.

Plus, if they're out of Natural Instincts for Men and you have to go to the women's hair aisle, it takes an hour to decide which shade you want.

 

[mapper]

Im 29 right now, 30 next jan. A few things I've started noticing.

1. My shins/ankles kinda hurt for about 30 mins in the morning. I rolled my ankle about a year ago real bad so this is most likely the cause. I have yet to break a single bone in my body in my entire life though.

2. Bathroom number 2 smells real bad. I remember when i was young and my uncle taking sh!ts and man alive did that make me sick. I've always thought how could one ever stink that bad. Now that I am an uncle I fear they are thinking the same thing. I believe this is mostly due to diet.

3. After a big meal I too now enjoy a nap on the couch. =/

4. If i could go back in time 15 years i would kick my own ass for being a dumbass. Funny how you think you know everything from 14-20 years of age.

5. Talking with kids that are 15-20 now and noticing how bright and white their teath are while mine are not so healthy looking. (not like they are that bad) I brush everyday but they simply don't look as white as you age. Perhaps quitting coffee or getting a whitening kit will help.

 

[matthyaouw]

My hairline is already in retreat. I'm 19 :(

 

[Math Is Hard]

I was really feeling like a geezer this morning. I heard on the radio that Journey is going to be in concert, and I was like wooohooo! Journey in Concert!

And then I thought about how long that band's been around, and the fact that I have the Escape album on vinyl somewhere in the back of my closet.

I'm ancient.

 

[russ_watters]

LOL! I thought 29 was a good age, so I stopped counting after that.

Tick, tick, tick... T-7 months and counting...

 

[Danger]

Tick, tick, tick... T-7 months and counting...

You're going to age even faster than the rest of us. I just spotted your name in another site, you two-timer! The guilt of cheating on us will bring you to an early end.

 

[BobG]

I was really feeling like a geezer this morning. I heard on the radio that Journey is going to be in concert, and I was like wooohooo! Journey in Concert!

And then I thought about how long that band's been around, and the fact that I have the Escape album on vinyl somewhere in the back of my closet.

I'm ancient.

The strangest statistic about how old my generation was getting? Most of Clinton's cabinet was younger than the Rolling Stones. (Now there's some guys that have really aged badly. )

 

[Chi Meson]

FOr me, its the music. I came of age in the early eighties when the only decent music came from the independant scene. During my last year of college, Nirvana released "Bleach." When I began teaching, there was at least that overlap: I like Nirvana, they (HS students) like Nirvana.

Now, I'm a little tired of Nirvana, and they have never heard of Nirvana.

I find myself saying things like : "the music these kids listen to these days is meaningless; not like the music of my generation" etc etc.

I remember the old hippies who would say the same thing about my music.

Oh God, I'm an old hippie.

 

[Danger]

Oh God, I'm an old hippie.

Not even close! To be an old hippie, your scene had to have included the Mamas and the Papas, the 5th Dimension, Ocean, Joplin, Hendrix, The Band, The Troggs, The Kinks, and lots more. (I wonder how many kids these days are discovering The Who for the first time because of the CSI title sequences.)

 

[Chi Meson]

I wonder how many kids these days are discovering The Who for the first time because of the CSI title sequences.

And that's "late" Who. Way past the seminal years IMOH (and correct) O.

And BTW, I knew my Mama AND my Papa, so I don't get your meaning.

 

[Danger]

I knew my Mama AND my Papa, so I don't get your meaning.

But did they know you? (Or admit to it, at least.)

 

[Evo]

What are all these kids doing in the old thread?

Eyesight is the main annoyance for me. I had a pair of those Varilux trifocals that cost me $400 that the Evo child stepped on and broke. We're presbyopes guys.

Because I'm such a klutz, my left knee and my right hip pop and I make clicking sounds when I walk upstairs.

I'm beginning to sag in places I didn't previously have places.

And you're not an old hippy unless you actually attended Mothers of Invention, Jim Hendrix and Janis Joplin concerts. I did.

 

[Danger]

I'm beginning to sag in places I didn't previously have places.

I will be more than willing to offer support.

And you're not an old hippy unless you actually attended Mothers of Invention, Jim Hendrix and Janis Joplin concerts. I did.

Not fair! I would have to have been a rich old hippie. None of them ever played anywhere near where I lived. (Unless concerts in Detroit of which I didn't know.)

 

[Chi Meson]

We're presbyopes guys.

I've always been farsighted. I never knew it until I was in college. All those headaches in high school, you know what it was ? English homework! Now the axillary muscles are giving way and I can't see anything that isn't closer than 20 feet.

And you're not an old hippy unless you actually attended Mothers of Invention, Jim Hendrix and Janis Joplin concerts. I did.

And I'm not (as it turns out) even an old Hippie (and who wants to be an "old punkie"?)

Because I'm such a klutz, my left knee and my right hip pop and I make clicking sounds when I walk upstairs.

And I can't stand "Hip pop music."

 

[Evo]

I spelled hippie "hippy" I'm becoming senile.

 

[Evo]

I've always been farsighted. I never knew it until I was in college. All those headaches in high school, you know what it was ? English homework! Now the axillary muscles are giving way and I can't see anything that isn't closer than 20 feet.

I was always nearsighted and now I can't read can labels in the grocery store.

And I'm not (as it turns out) even an old Hippie (and who wants to be an "old punkie"?)

That just doesn't sound right.

And I can't stand "Hip pop music."

Then you could never spend time around me. I do throw in a few grunts and groans when I get out of a chair I've been sitting in for awhile.

 

[Danger]

I spelled hippie "hippy" I'm becoming senile.

But surely you remember me, your beloved Danger, after all we've meant to each other. Here... let me help you up the stairs. The popping doesn't bother me at all...

 

[Moonbear]

I spelled hippie "hippy" I'm becoming senile.

Nope, we've seen your picture, you definitely have nothing to worry about with regard to being hippy.

The more and more I read this thread, the more and more convinced I'm just going to stay 29 forever! Okay, not like I'm too old yet. I'm 33 now, and that doesn't feel too bad, but somehow the thought of turning 34 at the end of the year disturbs me. That number just sounds bad to me. That's how old my parents were when I was a little kid and they were ancient, OLD people! On the other hand, my mom has always acted old too. She's one of those people who looked forward to retirement so she could just sit around the house all day.

 

[hypatia]

woah Astro! If I fell like that I would still be laying there! I have also found that walks help ease the joint pain. I use to be a lot more active, and hope to be again, with in the next year.
I sometimes work with Focus Hope a inner city program.{detroit} We use to take kids camping, kids who had never seen the woods except for the movies.
I'm going to be semi retired in about a year{yeah to being old} and I hope to get this program on the ball again.

 

[zoobyshoe]

What are all these kids doing in the old thread?

That poor 29 year old! One foot in the grave!

Eyesight is the main annoyance for me. I had a pair of those Varilux trifocals that cost me $400 that the Evo child stepped on and broke.

I could send you my $400 + experiment with progressive lenses. They're fine if you can hold your head rigidly still. If you move, everything in your peripheral vision warps in a Dali-esque/funhouse mirror way. They are surplus special effects lenses or something. However, they make my face look younger. When I force the people I'm with to wear them.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'd have to agree watching my parents get older bothers me more than my age. My Dad has Parkinson's disease and that really bothers me...

I'm sorry to hear about this, BobG. I've done some reading about Parkinson's and it's quite a devestating condition. I hope you're finding all the resources you need to deal with it.

Plus, if they're out of Natural Instincts for Men and you have to go to the women's hair aisle, it takes an hour to decide which shade you want.

Now, I have made a vow to do no cheating with the grey. In a similar vein, I grew up hearing so many mocking remarks about the infamous "comb-over" that I have to stop a million times during my tedious attempts to minimize the effect of the thin spot, to ask "Does that suggest comb-over? Does this suggest comb-over?" While the lines from TS Eliot run through my head:

I grow old.
I grow old.
I shall wear my trouser-bottoms rolled,

And I shall turn and descend the stair
With a bald spot growing in the middle of my hair.

 

[Moonbear]

Plus, if they're out of Natural Instincts for Men and you have to go to the women's hair aisle, it takes an hour to decide which shade you want.

LOL! My parents had it all worked out, mom picks out the shade she likes, and then she and my stepdad split the bottle (both have short hair, so don't need all of it). Though, once my stepdad retired, he stopped dying his hair. He only did it to try to look younger while still working (he was a truck driver and was worried they'd give the better paying, longer runs to the young kids if he started looking too old). It worked pretty well. Since they started out with different base colors, the final color didn't look entirely identical (though they did have to put up with me laughing mercilessly the first time they did this and I found out what they were up to).

When I turn gray, I'm going to wear it proudly! We do have this old professor emeritus running around here who is ancient yet dyes his hair this really horrid shade of reddish brown. It looks so goofy. He'd look a lot better just keeping the gray. I mean, there's no denying his age just by dying his hair anymore, and it's such an obvious dye-job.

 

[gnome]

I was always nearsighted and now I can't read can labels in the grocery store.

Ironically, I'm reduced to being thankful for having been so myopic all my life that now I can still see clearly up close if I take my glasses off.

Now, I have made a vow to do no cheating with the grey. In a similar vein, I grew up hearing so many mocking remarks about the infamous "comb-over" that I have to stop a million times during my tedious attempts to minimize the effect of the thin spot, to ask "Does that suggest comb-over? Does this suggest comb-over?"

Nothing says "pathetic" more than a comb-over.

My solution for the past 10 years or so is my Kojak (read "aerodynamic") haircut.

LOL how many of these kids even know who Kojak was? How pathetic is that?

 

[gnome]

?? Not sure what that means. No drugs involved.

Just kidding. Y'know -- California longhair falling out of a tree. What were we supposed to think?

(I know Uluru isn't Calif., but your pics LOOK Calif, at least to my old eyes.)

 

[Moonbear]

LOL how many of these kids even know who Kojak was? How pathetic is that?

Tell me it can't be so! People who don't know who Kojak was? The guy who made it okay for grown-ups to suck on lolipops?!