Thoughts and Words of Advice, not political

[solo1]

I've heard many riders say that they will be riding up until the day that they die, a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

Some thoughts.  Not meant to be negative or feeling sorry for myself but here they are.

Riding.  I no longer ride because I have bad knees. I have not replaced them because they don't hurt but they also don't work right.  I bruise easily so I would be one massive bruise if I had even a minor get off. I also believe that anything that you do to your body will haunt you in your older age.  For me, personally, riding had started to have me playing the 'what if" game, again due to the above.  It was distracting and dangerous.

Shooting sports. I no longer can load a magazine without using an Uplula.  My 'pinching' strength is weak due to extreme pain in my thumbs. Just the other day, I had troubles pulling back the slide on my Smith 22A. Some days, it's even hard to use the zipper on my pants!  I have two heavy HiPoint carbines. It's hard to take them out of the gun safe because of the wrist action combined with the gripping needed to lift them.

Now I won't even talk about the various and insidious aches and pains that come and go. Every day, there is a new one when I wake up.  I must force myself to walk but walk I MUST!. Any temperature below about 45 degrees and my body becomes stiff and my slight (so far) unbalance problems are accentuated. I have other physical problems but we all do so I won't talk about therm.

The good news  I have a very active and working mind (so I'm told).   I try to keep positive and active both physically and mentally, so far, so good.

Why am i telling you this?  I'm like an old car with lots of miles. an old car doesn't go bad all at once.  It's a case of 'nickle and dime".  The body is the same except it's not 'nickle and dime'   In both cases, if it still runs, so much the better 

So, do like what Bruce, DDT, is doing. Ride until your 'nickle and dime' body won't let you, then go for an alternate (in my case, the Miata) and keep innovating until you can't.

At soon to be 89, I still have the joy of just being around.  I believe that I've had help

A final thought. I've lost many friends to lung cancer, they went before their time. As an old, and I mean old, former smoker I say please quit the habit, and maybe you can hold off the 'nickle and dime' era or something much worse, for awhile longer.

Jes my .02

Wayne. solo1

[dreamaker]

I hope you will be here a long, long time, you seem to understand things and make sense of your thoughts and your much experiences have a deep understand before pulling the trigger on things. You comfortable and enjoyable to talk to.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think your observations are correct. I would like to think I'll ride till the end. But that's probably not realistic.
Also, I quit zipping up years ago. It improves your odds of getting lucky. 

[solo1]

Lucky, at my age,  means the ability to pee.  Is that what you mean

[The emperor has no clothes]

Lucky, at my age,  means the ability to pee.  Is that what you mean

Well now that you mention it. It does give the advantage of not peeing my pants. Every second counts. Whether it be in the bathroom or in the bedroom. 

[da prez]

   When you are young , you are bullet proof. You do things and take chances (here , hold my beer and watch this).  I was at VA he other day for my flu shot and the young corman was very friendly.
  He was doing his job , but not rushing me thru.  He asked me how long I have been out of the service.
  47 years I replied. I was out before his parents were born. He thanked me for my service.
 I then said something I have said before , but should not have said.
  See what you may look like in 47 years. I can only hope he will make it.
  If I had only known I would live this long , I would have taken better care of myself.

                                   NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
                                                    da prez                            (also an ex smoker 40 years)

[Master Blaster]

Wayne, been there, done that, and more. 77 here, and have already lived a few lives.  It is getting harder, life that is, LOL, but we trudge on. 

[Oss]

rock on sir wayne

Keep gettin older

dont listen to these codgers  

https://www.facebook.com/AtlantisMusic/videos/3791655424702/

[Rams]

Genetics and family history indicate that I won't make it to Wayne's age but, I fully intend to make the most of what time I have left.   Let's ride!!!   

[Pappy!]

Codgers? I will have you know that I am just 39......and have been for a long long time!

[John Schmidt]

Wayne, one thing I've realized in the October-November period of life....I'm twice as strong as I was at age 25. Used to take both hands to bend something back then, now I can do it with one hand.  

[old2soon]

If I'm allowed one regret it would be that I started smoking. April of 2017 I'll be 15 years smoke free. BUT prior to that I had smoked for about 43 years-WAY too much damage done to my lungs-heart-circulatory system etc etc. Kinda too late to complain BUT I am paying for my lack of smarts now!  Can you spell C O P D?  Wayne-I PRAY when I can no longer ride I have at least as much Class as you've shown when THAT day arrives!  Maybe time to take up tiddly winks with manhole covers?  Thanks fer the wake up call Wayne!  RIDE SAFE.

[RainMaker]

Thank you again for the wonderful writing.  I am early in the process, but some things aren't working as well with me, either.

I think what people mean when they say "I'll ride until the day I die" is I won't die until it's time - I will "live" and not just exist. Which you exemplify.  You live, not just exist.

[Firefighter]

I think everybody is different. Some people get sick or have problems all their life, we all know kids who died early or have been in and out of the hospital all their life. Some people still stay active late in life (old Age) and others don't or can't. I don't think it's always how much one exercises or eats well, it can just be that individual.

When young some of us say when we get old we will do this or not do that, but things change as time goes by and you don't feel the same about things as you use to. Ambition might melt some, interest can change, strength slowly weakens, not as easy to get down on your knees and check the air pressure anymore. Other people seem to be able to continue (being active) longer seem to have a blessed life, but who really knows.

I have spent my life working and don't think a very exciting life, but I think I am very lucky to have been born in the USA and been free to follow many of my interest and as far as getting old, we will all do that, if we are lucky.

 I am starting to ramble, if you want to go shooting or riding there are ways, that is what family and friends are for. In the Fire Service we take groups of people fishing who could never do that on there on.

[solo1]

Genetics, attitude, habits, stress, and luck (or something else) are all involved in living older, IMHO.

I inherited asthma from my father, he died at 70 years. My mother died at 76.  All four of my sisters have died.  I can't explain it, i just trudge along the best that I can.

Medical care is more advanced (and more expensive)  I won't give any advice other than say stay active, mentally and physically, as best that you can.  My experience at being employed as an Xray tech many years ago in the VA, also says, that heavy drinking and any smoking are NOT your friends

I did both in the Service, not any more..

[art]

74 here in two months and still going strong(for now) I gave up riding two years ago and do woodwork in my small shop. I rebuilt the interior of a 30' motorhome a 13 ' trailer and just finished the complete inside of a class B motorhome. I'm going to keep the B for awhile and then sell for a better one. I buy cheap rebuild and make a profit when I sell. That's a sort of hobby an something to keep me going. Don't have a Miata yet but it's on my list.

[Bighead]

Mr Wayne you have 40 years on me and I can only hope to be as active and have the mind you do if I make it that long ( won't happen ) but if it does I want a good mind as you have . and I truly thank you for your service to our country

[tonyfan70]

I plan on riding until I am no longer able to. Then I plan on becoming that old man, driving like I don't care and thinking I DO own the road and occasionally bumping into things when Im parking.

Parking my sweet corvette that is. May not have the balance to ride or the strength to hold up my bike, but dammit I'm not planning on being dead immediately after parking the bike forever. It'll be a shame tearing up a vette but I'll be old and won't care or remember anything a day later anyway.