Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 I'm three score and eleven years old today and I feel pretty good about myself. Okay, so I have a few more physical problems than when I was younger (due to a lot of abuse of my body trying to prove to myself and others that "Yes I can"), but I am nowhere near as competitive as in the past. I don’t try to impress much of anyone anymore, and I no longer feel an need to be competitive. I simply don’t have much left to prove to anyone but myself… and myself isn’t easily impressed, either. I'm carrying more weight, more scars and wrinkles, less hair, more sorrows over lost friends, less tolerance for idiocy and stupidity and rudeness, and have fewer regrets than ever before. My agility and balance are rapidly disappearing, my hearing is getting worse (but thank God there's less and less worth hearing), I have less strength andendurance, and I'm becoming short-winded. There is very little that impresses me any more, but sometimes simple things just blow me away. I’ve never been very impressed by offices, titles, positions, or wealth (a holdover from my father’s influence) and I’m even less so now than I ever was. I am impressed by personal achievements and the accomplishments by individuals and some groups, however, and by the knowledge some people have acquired. I am also amazed by the kindness and friendship and generosity of many people. I've grown much more conservative (and I have never been very liberal) and less trustful of governments and big businesses over the years. I'm also calmer and better able to see the other guy's perspective (no matter how totally idiotic or wrong it may be) and can argue my side as long and hard as I want, or simply walk away as I choose. On the other hand there are still a great number of things about which I tend to get loud and contentious. I can flirt with younger women (or any other women) and get away with it, intimidate men half my age because they think I'm crazy, refuse to keep my mouth shut about things that I disagree with, and express my opinions about things without really caring how it will be taken by others. I can do pretty much what I want (instead of what I have to do or what is expected of me) and simply refuse to do much of what I don't want to do. No one can hire me, fire me, change my pay or position, transfer me, whip me in a fair fight (although my definition of “fair” may not be the same as theirs), or cause me much embarrassment any more. I answer to God, to myself, to most laws.....and to my wife. Because of education and / or experience I know more about many things than people younger than I. This impresses the bejabbers out of some and bores others to tears... and I don't even care. I can recycle a lot of old jokes, old stories, and old sayings and some younger folks think I'm being clever and funny. Of course, some of them don’t have a clue about what I’m saying because in their lives there simply is no frame of reference. I'm not afraid of much anymore. I've been hurt in more ways than one and it doesn't concern me a lot. I don’t like pain, but I can handle most of it when it comes my way ...except the pain of losing friends and loved ones. I mourn for so many who are no longer here. I can love or hate without reservation and express myself accordingly. It's easier for me to choose who or what I want to be kind to, and who and what I can ignore without losing any sleep over it. I can take time out in the middle of just about anything to talk to people, pet a puppy, have a piece of pie, nap, start or finish a project (or do a bit on one...or ignore it altogether), play peek-a-boo with a little kid, watch the world go by, laugh at a joke, or write my stories.Getting older is mandatory but "growing up" is optional. I can still enjoy kid stuff. With age comes a certain freedom, but I'll point out again that getting older ain't for the timid or weak.Welcome to maturity. Enjoy yourself. It doesn't have to be stodgy, dull, lonely, boring, frightening, or painful. Go out and have an ice cream cone on me.
Apache Hawk 60642 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 WELL........... HAPPY BIFDAY FORTY ROD !
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Well said, sir. Thank you. And, may God grant you many years.
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Hell, 4TR....Didn't think you could count that high. Have a great day LG
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday Forty! I do believe you just wrapped up my advanced age philosophy in a few short paragraphs.
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Posted March 15, 2013 Hell, 4TR....Didn't think you could count that high. Have a great day LG I sent you an e-mail.
Calico Mary Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Anybody got a fire extinguisher for the cake????
Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday from your Seriously Strange "Girlfriend!"
Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday from your Seriously Strange "Girlfriend!" And a damned cute one at that!
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday Forty! I do believe you just wrapped up my advanced age philosophy in a few short paragraphs. I have a hundred and ten TRUTHS compiled, too, but if I posted them I'd probably have a few hundred people with torches, shotguns, and farm implements storming up to my castle doors with the intent of destroying "the monster". My freedom of speech would undoubtedly contradict their beliefs and finer sensibilities. I'd certainly p--s of a huge number of people, and even though I wouldn't normally care, it could cut off my privileges on this web site.....and I quite enjoy it here.
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birfday Farty Rod. And many many more to come! But you still got a crummy yard!
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 I sent you an e-mail. And you have lern'd rite'n to........... LG
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happiest of days to you, Sir! Mighty well preserved and a right positive example for the younger set, I say!! Carry on~!
Bama Red Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday, Forty Rod!! May you have as many more as you like. That derby hat and gruff exterior do a good job of hiding your inner curmudgeon!!
Guest Two Fingers Slim Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 HAPPY BIG B-DAY TO YOU SIR!!!!!!!!! TFS
Grizzly Dave Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Congrats on the anniversary of your birth, hatching, evolvement, or however it is that you came to be.
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Posted March 15, 2013 Congrats on the anniversary of your birth, hatching, evolvement, or however it is that you came to be. I sprang full-grown from the head of Thor....or was that Odin.
Clay Mosby Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday Forty Rod. Don't forget to add writing mentor to your list of accomplishments. (Yes, I will get the ending of Panamint rewritten someday.) You should get the package in the next couple of days!
The Shoer 27979 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday Forty Rod so 3 score and 11 years that makes you what 131 years or 191 years I forget
Utah Bob #35998 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to Cry if I want to Cry if I want to You would cry too If it happened to youuuu. :lol:
Paladin Gun For Hire Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 May ya be blessed with many more Sir.
Frazee Ridge, SASS #54171 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birthday. I really do hope to have lunch with you someday and tell you in person. Maybe before your next birthday. Frazee
Big Jake1001 Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 Happy Birfday Forty Rod, 71 huh? when I grow up, I wanna be just like you. After reading that and being retired 4 years now...I think I'm half way there. Just sayin' Jake
Capt. James H. Callahan Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 Happy birfday ya old horsethief. How's you manage to stay ahead of the posse that long?????? JHC
Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 I have a hundred and ten TRUTHS compiled, too, but if I posted them I'd probably have a few hundred people with torches, shotguns, and farm implements storming up to my castle doors with the intent of destroying "the monster". My freedom of speech would undoubtedly contradict their beliefs and finer sensibilities. I'd certainly p--s of a huge number of people, and even though I wouldn't normally care, it could cut off my privileges on this web site.....and I quite enjoy it here. So when do we get to read them? No worries, most of us do own asbestos longjohns.
Calamity Kris Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 Happy Birthday, darlin'!!! Wishing you many more to come.
Marty Mudd Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 A day late and a.................. Well; you get the idea. Happy Birthday, Forty Rod! Only those who choose to be offended will have issues with your 110 truths. If Ben Franklin thought it worth while to write down his truths; all of us should do so . To quote a person that I highly respect: " I don't care what you believe as long as you know why you believe it".
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