Question for the "old guys"...Is it just me or are there others?

Coinneach said:

I disagree, at our age we can urinate just about anywhere we damn well please, mumble at anyone who we dislike; smirk at ol gals who smile at us expectantly; bore our grandchildren with long winded accounts of "when I was your age ..."; stare at our granddaughters boyfriend while we're cradling a Shotgun; blow chunks of snot anywhere we have to wait in line for anything, and drive at the lowest acceptable speed possible just to remind everyone that we still have a License.
Come on fellas why cant aging be FUN ?

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The grandaughter thing is funny, My granddaughter visited one day and announced she wanted her grandmother and I to meet her boy friend,I said O.K. the next thing she told me was you gotta be good and not scare him. Told her I would just set the shot gun in the corner and not hold it.

Muley Gil said:

From what I understand, it isn't safe to jump start these new cars with all of the electronics. Luckily, I still drive the '88 F150 that my mom gave me after my dad died.

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Not safe to even change/disconnect battery without adding a alternate power source beforehand.

SPQR70AD said:

but you compared it with the garbage coming out of detroit lol. there was junk coming out of the detroit and the Japanese forced US makers to produce better products. as far as motorcycles the honda 350-450-750 were a million times better then any english bike in the early 70's

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I saw Japanese cars make our auto industry build a better four cylinder engine. I never did understand why we American didn't make a better product? There is no reason we shouldn't have cars,rifles and all things as good as any other country without having to buy something custom made?

LME said:

I saw Japanese cars make our auto industry build a better four cylinder engine. I never did understand why we American didn't make a better product? There is no reason we shouldn't have cars,rifles and all things as good as any other country without having to buy something custom made?

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My opinion, Unions.....always want more for less. Japanese did not have them or need them and they used integrated supply chains which became the std later on. We could do it, but people did not want to pay for it. Holland & Holland ,RIgby and others were always expensive. But the mind set was different. A person had few rifles, but good ones. American mind set was and is screwed up always thinking more is better(IMHO) My Grandfather was a world Class PH and hunter who hunted all 4 Continents in the 50's/60's 70's he used two rifles, both pre 64 model 70's, one in 30-06, one in 300 H&H for 'big stuff" both with Custom Made Lyman scopes with distant dots in them. He was ahead of his time. He also has back up receiver sight (redfield) that came apart and stored in the butt. Never needed anything else. We used to build excellent optics, now we are down to only one or two actually made in the USA. Americans wanted big, loud, noisy gas guzzling V-8s not 4 cylinders. Can't impress anyone with a 4 cylinder, oh that's right, Porsche did! LOL! Just one man's opinion.

Muley Gil said:

From what I understand, it isn't safe to jump start these new cars with all of the electronics. Luckily, I still drive the '88 F150 that my mom gave me after my dad died.

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You can jump start a brand new car with an ICE. Just don't try it on a Prius.

I wonder about hybrids though.

Ah member when I wush a kid, them old farts knew how to whine and be nostalgic. The old farts of today jest plum don't measure up.

Read through this entire thread. With all of that pissin' and moanin' going on, it is no wonder that young kids don't want to hang out anywhere near you.

Dale Lilly said:

Well, I only learned I was good enough to sing in public after I was 78 years old. So, for 12 years now I have sung at a theater nearly every Friday night. I think that has been worth getting old. To hear folks cheer, whistle and clap for this old geezer is a good feeling. I am, however, aware that much of the applause is for the song and writer. Man, those folks are talented and I am only a hitchhiker. Dale

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Dale, have you any Youtube vids of your performances? I for one could use some encouragement at this stage of life!
again i must repeat, the ride getting here has been a wonderful experience, being here is a chore sometimes.

Just my $.02. I'm now 83, and haven't shot BP for decades now, even tho in my mind I am still on a woods walk during the FIW. In high school (1952) I joined the HS Rifle Club (remember those?) and the instructors were 2 Marines recently home from Korea. They were ML enthusiasts and would find old muskets and rifles in peoples' attics, clean them up, tie 'em to a tree and test fire them. Then us kids got a turn! I remember going to a rendezvous in Cos Cob, CT in 1953 where, at 14, I won an offhand 50 yard match against a lot of old-timers. Our rifle range burned down in about 1954, and I didn't touch an ML for many years after that until the early '90s, when I got the itch again. Bought a Traditions Pennsylvania rifle in .45, and started burning some powder again. Then I got really hooked, and started buying ML books and such and decided to build a flinter. Took me a while, but I finished it in 1995. I took it to Dixon's that year, and was fortunate enough to be awarded 3rd prize in the 1st Gun category. At Dixon's I bought the parts for my next build - a Jim Chambers lock, Getz swamped .45 barrel and a Tiger Hunt stock blank.

Unfortunately for my ML career, I got sidetracked by unmentionable clay target shooting, and put my flinter down. Haven't shot it for over 25 years now, and guess I'll never get around to building another. Still have all the parts (except the stock blank) - I should probably sell the parts here sometime. Also have a ton of books: Shumway, Buchele, Roberts, Meek and others. Also a full original set of the 5 vols of JHAT. Maybe someday I'll get around to posting all that stuff here.

I'll just have to be content with my fond memories of being afield with the flinter and the sweet smell of BP!

SPQR70AD said:

english motorcycles were junk just like their cars the MG and Triumph austin marina even jaguars were junk

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So why are most of 'em Still coolected?? Even on your side of the puddle ??. I even collect Old British Guns..O.D..

Feeling used? Looking back some 70+ years i have long suspected a pattern of certain social entities using fear to push uslike cattle in one way or the other. Since birth the fear of economic collapse was foisted on us from our depression era parents. Add being taught that war was very bad and many relatives were killed by our enemies. In the mid 50's to 60's we were always being scared of being blown to bits by Russian nuclear bombs and reinforced by being made to hide under our school desks. And then in our teens the threat of being sent to Vietnam really put a damper on High School days. Attending friends funerals didn't help and yes i wound up there for 4 years. After that a continuing series of economic crises with intermittent wars from the 70's thru the collapse of the USSR near 1990 added to the fun along with Gas shortages. After that more "crises", War and other issues came up about once a week from Iran to South America to North Korea and so on. Then when they lost their "appeal" the powers that be switched to more personal concerns, The environment and health issues. Aids, Toxic Shock syndrome, SIDS, so called Global Warming/climate change and so on. Meanwhile economic "crises" continued and now it has become downright personal. The common flu has been weaponized, Politics has us in fear of our govt and each other and a second civil war seems possible if not palatable. And then theres current "Weimar republic" like inflation on the horizon. One wonders whats next? Been fun hasn't it???

Look at us old geezers complaining! We’re still here and I remember the old geezers doing the same thing in the 50s and 60s and beyond. I think it is just in some folk’s nature. I’m thankful for what I have and look forward to tomorrow. We are pretty darn lucky to be here in this country if craziness on the ends of the political spectrum don’t destroy it. Just say thank you Lord and now let’s go burn some powder.

Snake Pleskin said:

My opinion, Unions.....always want more for less. Japanese did not have them or need them and they used integrated supply chains which became the std later on. We could do it, but people did not want to pay for it. Holland & Holland ,RIgby and others were always expensive. But the mind set was different. A person had few rifles, but good ones. American mind set was and is screwed up always thinking more is better(IMHO) My Grandfather was a world Class PH and hunter who hunted all 4 Continents in the 50's/60's 70's he used two rifles, both pre 64 model 70's, one in 30-06, one in 300 H&H for 'big stuff" both with Custom Made Lyman scopes with distant dots in them. He was ahead of his time. He also has back up receiver sight (redfield) that came apart and stored in the butt. Never needed anything else. We used to build excellent optics, now we are down to only one or two actually made in the USA. Americans wanted big, loud, noisy gas guzzling V-8s not 4 cylinders. Can't impress anyone with a 4 cylinder, oh that's right, Porsche did! LOL! Just one man's opinion.

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We always heard from State side that OHV wasn't invented until 1947. FORD V8 Pilot. Rather funny as my Dad was flying in 1917 in string bag's powered by a Hispano-Suiza 8 cyl. VEE Twin OHC engine made "on licence" by Wolseley Engineering,BIRMINGHAM,ENGLAND. Those that relied on them, said It was more reliable than the original..Photo's of DAD with RFC Hat badge in 1917 and RAF on his Cap. in 1918.. There is nothing NEW. OLD DOG.. PITTY W10 sods up all my Attach's. Last one was not the photo I in tended but of a Bird taken in about 1985 in my local Pub and not for Pub licatio O.D.n

I got old at a very young age, I broke my neck in 6 places & my back in 4. at age 17. My dr. told me to go sign up for Disability. He said I had the spine of a 65 yr.old.That when Arthritis set in I would be in a wheel chair...I could not imagine or accept that. Now I'm 68.Doc was right Except for the Wheel chair, But as they say Motion is lotion. I've had a good life because I never knew when my last day of work was. Had 2 Careers in 45 yrs. plus owned my own Gun Shop on the side for 26 years. The part that hurts the worst is watching the deterioration of Society. I always did hang out with the old guys and learned the old ways ( I believe that Hanshi uses a quote something like that) Deerstalkert and Solanco talk of being raised by a community. You were Fair Game for any nieghborhood parent if you were acting up. As well as YOUR folks when you got home along with all the other lumps & bumps along the way. But I wouldn't have missed it for the World.I married,raised a family,give back to my Community, and have my 87yr old Mother in law living with us for the last 12 yrs.(My idea) because it's the right thing to do. I just WISH society would quit making the same mistakes over,& over....and if any of my nieces or nephews call me by my first name. I give them Hell and ignore them until I hear Uncle or Unk, Common sense ain't so common any more, and common Courtesy & Respect is even rarer......WALLY...........I think I'll go Limber up my Harley.it's been 2 yrs.

JohnL said:

I’m 48 and right there with you sir. I much prefer scraping a powder horn, working leather, or scrimshaw work as compared to television or cell phone. I’m frequently told that I was born in the wrong Century.

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Me too! Except the 48 part

Snake Pleskin said:

My opinion, Unions.....always want more for less. Japanese did not have them or need them and they used integrated supply chains which became the std later on. We could do it, but people did not want to pay for it. Holland & Holland ,RIgby and others were always expensive. But the mind set was different. A person had few rifles, but good ones. American mind set was and is screwed up always thinking more is better(IMHO) My Grandfather was a world Class PH and hunter who hunted all 4 Continents in the 50's/60's 70's he used two rifles, both pre 64 model 70's, one in 30-06, one in 300 H&H for 'big stuff" both with Custom Made Lyman scopes with distant dots in them. He was ahead of his time. He also has back up receiver sight (redfield) that came apart and stored in the butt. Never needed anything else. We used to build excellent optics, now we are down to only one or two actually made in the USA. Americans wanted big, loud, noisy gas guzzling V-8s not 4 cylinders. Can't impress anyone with a 4 cylinder, oh that's right, Porsche did! LOL! Just one man's opinion.

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You are on to something with the unions comment. When I visited Charleston, SC and toured the harbor I saw something surprising. BMW cars built in a non union plant in Greer, SC being loaded on a roro ship to go to Europe. BMW building in a non union plant here to avoid the high cost of union labor in Germany. Apparently the cost difference is so great that they can afford to ship the cars to Europe.

senseisugarbear said:

I got old at a very young age, I broke my neck in 6 places & my back in 4. at age 17. My dr. told me to go sign up for Disability. He said I had the spine of a 65 yr.old.That when Arthritis set in I would be in a wheel chair...I could not imagine or accept that. Now I'm 68.Doc was right Except for the Wheel chair, But as they say Motion is lotion. I've had a good life because I never knew when my last day of work was. Had 2 Careers in 45 yrs. plus owned my own Gun Shop on the side for 26 years. The part that hurts the worst is watching the deterioration of Society. I always did hang out with the old guys and learned the old ways ( I believe that Hanshi uses a quote something like that) Deerstalkert and Solanco talk of being raised by a community. You were Fair Game for any nieghborhood parent if you were acting up. As well as YOUR folks when you got home along with all the other lumps & bumps along the way. But I wouldn't have missed it for the World.I married,raised a family,give back to my Community, and have my 87yr old Mother in law living with us for the last 12 yrs.(My idea) because it's the right thing to do. I just WISH society would quit making the same mistakes over,& over....and if any of my nieces or nephews call me by my first name. I give them Hell and ignore them until I hear Uncle or Unk, Common sense ain't so common any more, and common Courtesy & Respect is even rarer......WALLY...........I think I'll go Limber up my Harley.it's been 2 yrs.

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Don't know about the Harley. I have a 1929 344 Single ohv competition engine I used in a BSA frame 60 years ago waiting in my garage for a new owner. Veteran applicants only.Any one with an engine-less OK Supreme or other can Inquire. O.D.

Good thing about getting old is you're still alive. Bad thing about getting old is ...you're old, and most of your stuff is too. T-shirts and ball caps from memorable events (NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge 2002, for example) kinda, sorta tell folks you're either really old or you shop at Goodwill. When the checkout person at a restaurant no longer asks, but automatically applies the "Senior Discount" -- you have arrived.

Over many years, I started to put together a period correct outfit to wear at rendezvous/re-enactments. To be historically correct, not many battles I've read about were fought by soldiers from the Old Folks Home nor were free trappers using walkers with tennis balls. Another missed opportunity (like growing my hair long - now that I can ...no hair to grow), life's full of "I should haves". Do what you can, while you can. Cheers.

I have disliked older UK made cars and such for over 50 years due to two outstanding incidents.

First was i was instructed to jump start an old MG (?). I recall i told the owner it may be a positive ground. He disagreed and the bottom of the battery (and all the acid/plates) blew out. Luckily the gas station owner heard me warn him and the owner telling me to do it.

Second was buying a wartime BSA still in its 55 gallon drum. Took 3 months pay as a Basic Airman to pay for it, First ride both tires came apart from rot. Later it seized as it could nor keep up with the 120F temp at the base in Las Vegas.

SJ. last september i was sick in hospital with the kung fu flu. decided to grow my hair long because i had to shave (or they did) my beard because of the O2 masks etc.
remember that Michael Keaton part in Beetleguese? thats what i looked like!