Old Guy Thoughts

Amen to that, brother

Both photos from here

This could've been brother John and I. We talked about it. Just didn't get the chance.

I've been doing a little ruminating lately and have come up with a few observations:

 Like the old guy sitting on the BSA, I worked hard and saved my money and now I can afford at least a few things that only young people enjoy. Since I was a school teacher, getting rich never was part of the equation, but thanks in part to the efforts of the unions I belonged to, I'm going to be OK. Something to think about in the upcoming election. I've never really been too political in the past but I'm bothered by much of what has gone on in Indiana and at the federal level the last couple of years. Just make sure you vote.

I received my last Lindsay catalog the other day. Lindsay is retiring and there will be no more of his great technical books after the end of February. I'm probably a typical customer of his. His books appeal to the thinker/dreamer/tinkerer/builder kind of guy. He makes some observations in this catalog that are along the same line I've been thinking about - must be the retirement thing. It seems the mailing list has shrunk some due to the passing on of some of his customers. Much of the clientele apparently consists of old guys working down the basement/garage/barn on projects they always wanted to pursue but never had the time until they retired. Or they're making something for the grandkids from 75 year old plans. Or they're some duffer who can no longer get out to the shop but is still interested in learning something new. Guys looking for an alternative to vegging out in front of the tube even though they were the first generation to be brought up with a television (maybe since they've been around it the longest, they've seen what a mind killer it is). Since this is his last catalog he editorializes a little more than usual and takes a shot at the dumbasses and weak sisters of the world. He offers some solid advice but in this case it's a little like preaching to the choir:

"Life should be a series of accomplishments, an endless series, if not home runs, at least of base hits. But I know many people who stand at the plate and strike out  every time because their too lazy or too cowardly to pick up the bat and swing!"

"The world truly needs more people with energy who would rather learn, build, create, and tinker than watch the ol' one-eye monster: television (or these days interactive telvision called the internet.) Predictable, politically correct people are safe, but the are also very boring. So forget mowing the lawn. Nuts to washing the car. Get out there and build!"

If you're interested in getting a few of his books, I'd be getting after it. I'm definitely going to .

The semester is half over at the community college where I'm now employed. I gave a mid-term exam the other night to one of the classes. I was a little surprised by the results. I thought the test was going to be too easy but apparently not. Even though they're in college, for a few their study habits leave much to be desired. Probably not the kind who will mourn the retirement of Lindsay - just not really prepared for the life of a scholar. It's a shame, that. The college seems to recognize that a certain percentage of their clientele is made up of students who for whatever reason are going to find college difficult and offers them lots of help. I'm not being judgemental here - just an observation as I settle in on the new job.

Unlike some of the college students, even though my retirement was precipitated by a heart attack, I now am starting a new phase of my life in a relatively good position. This is essentially a rebirth - you can never get a do-over - but I can start over with a lot of things. I've got the diet and exercise thing in place. I'm looking into some meditative practice. I was lucky enough to fall into the perfect part-time job that gets me out among people a little and gives me a little coin to throw at my projects. All things considered, life is good. 

So now that the world is my oyster, I'd like to make the most of it.The big question, knowing that I'm a lot closer to the end than the beginning, how should I do that? Everyone has their own interpretation and outlook on life. For Lindsay, maybe it's spending more time on his photography/foundry/homebrewed ale. For me? Motorcycles, hotrods, boxing, travel, woodworking, photography, reading, gardening, and of course the grandkids. And a change in my mindset to be able to relax and actually enjoy all of those things. It's too late for me to set the world on fire. Hell, it's too late to even light the match anymore. But that's OK. It's not like I haven't done anything up to this point in my life. The bucket list is pretty short. A lot shorter than the to-do list but I'm not going to go to my grave worrying about insignificant crap written on a piece of paper stuck to the refrigerator, though.  Looks like maybe the first thing I need to do is put a little effort into finding the middle path. Somewhere between too much geriatric hooliganism and worrying about mowing the lawn. Regardless of how any of us spend our last few days/years/decades, as Mose Allison reminds us, "you can rest assured, the earth wants you".

Let's get out there and build, people!