When to give up or I'm to darn old

[Shadow Catcher]

Dad made it to 96 and was active up till about the last six months. My feeling when I can not do something comfortably I will work out how to do it smarter. I was talking to a welder about 15 years ago while I was waiting for the weld to cool so I could do an ultrasonic inspection and I asked him, "do you remember waking up in the morning and not having anything hurt" his reply "vaguely".

[Dave S]

Lots of good advice on "keep on keeping on" and "keep a stiff upper lip". but I welcome my pains because it means Im still on the right side of the dirt.......and as for the Tear, when I am with my fellow Teardroppers the sun and fun are always better, and just travelling with it (and my 55 Wagon) always draws waves, crowds and conversations.......go fur it......soon.......build, buy or borrow. Just do it (a tick away from 70, but sometimes 19 again).

[Miriam C.]

Where in SW Ohio are you? I often work all over the state of KY and many times have a weekend to kill. I would be more than happy to help out when I can!

...and that is what makes this forum so wonderful!

I was feeling down about my TD and how much I don't feel the energy to rebuild it. I think I will not do that again! It really is a lot of work to build or modify and sometimes it is wiser to buy! Or get some help!

[Roly Nelson]

Every day, while shaving, I talk to my cat and ask, "I wonder where that energetic, ambitious, blond-headed, fellow went that I used to shave about 65 years ago." Well, I keep telling myself, that he is still here, only he just looks different now. The first 5 minutes when I get out of bed, I am reminded that 79 year olds have to ease into the day and not do anything dumb, that could harm this aging body.

The old joints don't move as easily as they used to, but just knowing that I, once again get to go out into my work shop and putter for 8 hours or so, either with my wood-turning or finishing up my third teardrop trailer. After my wife died a couple of years ago, I wondered how I would get along without her, after 60 years of companionship. My doctor said he has seen old timers lose their mates, and a year or so later, they are sticken with some ailment that does them in, simply because they are inactive and refuse to get off of the couch, and socialize with others. He told me to get my "people fix" every day, and I do, even if I crack some joke in the grocery checkout line or go camping at a local campground, where there are friends that I haven't met yet.

My teardrop trailer is my therapy, and if all goes well, I plan on celebrating my 100th birthday in it, surounded by fellow campers. Just watching strangers laugh at all of my goofy wooden stuff, makes it all worth while. So come on, aching early morning hips, don't give out on my just yet. My bucket list is only half finished.
Roly, the li'l ol' So Cal TDer.

[pete42]

Blotto Bros, Miriam, Roly..........and others thanks

Blotto Bros thanks that is the kindest offer I have received in many many years thanks we will wait and see. I live half way between I75 and I71 on sr 35.

Miriam back in 1974 my town was hit by a tornado I lost some high school friends and many families lost their homes I hope you are on the road to recovery.

Roly I read your post "I went camping with friends I never met"made me sit back and say whoa that's what I'm missing from not camping.

I have been in touch with a CT manufacture they seem to be willing to work with me and do what ever I want

so I may have to spend more but I may be able to get one more complete than a bare CT.

People keep telling me you can't take it with you so spend it now.
I did ask about travelers checks for that final trip but bank said their not fire proof what ever that means

Feeling much better Pete

[nrody]

life is a great adventure.. Wee never know what part we will play . We all care hugs to you. nancy

[Senior Ninja]

Pete,
We all have stories.
What's important is what we do with them.
My best friend and I built my TD over the course of a year. Whenever it felt like work, we quit for the day and watched some cable TV. Having someone else to bounce ideas off and laugh or cry with is priceless.
My wife is two hundred miles away in a "Memory Unit" in a dementia
facility. It hasn't changed my love for her, just my ability to see her. When we do get together every minute is so special.
Just had a pace maker
installed and it has given me a new life. I'd like to build my daughter a TD.
Probably won't get to it for awhile, but you never know. I just am thankful for every day I wake up on this side of the sod!
A long time ago, I think in High school I heard, "to whom much is given, much is expected." I didn't find out until just recently that the quote is from the Bible. I have lived by that for my entire adult life. Now I do things I can. Example: whenever I find a nice person who waits on me or on the phone, I make it a point to get hold of their supervisor to leave a good report. It makes me feel so good. That's about all I can do now, but I do enjoy it.
Steve

[cracker39]

My late father was the type who did *everything* for himself, and never hired professional help. Electrical work, fix the furnace, rebuild his boat engine, build a house, repair the television, paint his airplane, you name it. He would even go out and dig out the cap to his septic tank to save the $25 that the pump truck charged. I was about 25 years old before I discovered the biggest secret in life...that there were places where you could go that actually changed your oil for you! ....

My Dad was like that. At 80 plus years old, a neighbor saw him on the roof of his house trying to fix his TV antenna (He hever had cable and I don't think he ever had his oil changed by anyone other than himself). He lived alone since Mom died nearly 20 years ago and he mowed his nearly acre sized yard with a riding mower up until he was 89 years old. He broke a hip at age 90 and wasn't able to get back to being active again. He died at age 91.

In some ways, I'm like my Dad (but I have had my oil changed occasionally, but I do it myself most of the time). I say Never Give Up!. Despite almost losing two fingers to my table saw, arthritis in my lower back and right wrist, at age 72 I built my 2nd TTT and when I get my seat cushions and c over them, it will be complete. When you give up, you're done!!! And, I don't plan on being done for a long time to come.

[S. Heisley]

Cracker39 wrote:

When you give up, you're done!!! And, I don't plan on being done for a long time to come.

[doug hodder]

Pete....NEVER give up...when you do...it wins, whatever "it" is. It may take longer to do things and it hurts more, but when it's all said and done...you have the personal satisfaction that you overcame your issues and did it, cuz you wanted it. Yeah it can be tough, but it' beats the alternative.

My mother gave up and from what I witnessed, it was a very unhappy ending. Thanks mom for giving me one last lesson, I learned that one well. Doug

[doghouse]

but can't do anything about it. LOL
as others have said, no way can I do what I used to, I'm finishing up a frame off 71 El camino, with lots of modifications( fuel inj motor, OD trans, 4 wheel disc brakes,etc) I used to go out and work on it all day, now 3-4 hrs and I'm beat.
I guess it boils down to- I plan to give up.... THE DAY AFTER I STOP BREATHING!
I do ask for help, and I give help when I can, it makes you feel valuable,
take it slower, and plan ahead, I may not accomplish much each day, but what I do complete, is fantastic!

[bobhenry]

This topic hits close to home..... This weekend I was inside the little 4x7 teardrop I started back when. and while kneeling down to install the headliner I was cussing the fact my right knee and hip are always hurting. I was starting to doubt myself and why I was putting myself thru this pain. Despite never (yep NEVER) having been in a hospital except for a few stitches and being on the wrong side of 300 # and staring at 61 this month I thank the Lord for being able to do what I do. We have a fellow camper and good friend who is 83 and makes almost every gathering in 4 states. I told him once that he was my roll model , when I grow up I want to be just like him.

So what did I do for my knee ? Just went to the shed and pulled out an old couch cushion I was saving for just such a moment and went back to work.

[pete42]

Maybe this should be the forum's creed.

"I plan to give up.... THE DAY AFTER I STOP BREATHING!"

thanks doghouse, I am glad mike allows us to ramble sometime that's what we (I) need.

went to VA Hospital today nothing special just a check-up all ok they worked on my foot.
well all ok for now I go to Dr. friday at out paitent clinic.

I am feeling better thanks to all.

pete

[pete42]

Slowcowboy it's like Senior Ninja said "we all have stories"

here's some of mine broken neck at age 13, first of 5 knee surgeries at 24,
two broken thumbs, couple other surgeries I won't mention, spinal stenosis age 61 forcing my retirement.

Working in a foundry for 41 years not all that easy.

birthdays keep coming faster and faster remember back when you were 18, 25, 30 all mile stones in our lives now it's 40, 50, 60 and oh-no 70.

take care and have your self one heck of a birthday.....Pete

[Rocketgirl]

I'm a big kid... I refuse to give up and let all the adult worries and problems get me down. It's tough though, I admit it. Some days are really sucky... and some days are a-okay. And sometimes I think that life today is more wack-a-do then ever before. I read the front page of the newspaper and go "what the h - - - ???? and then turn quickly to the safety of the comics! But in the words of Dora from the movie Finding Nemo, keep on swimming! Have you seen the movie? If not, check it out. Or at least play this clip:

http://lair2000.net/Mermaid_Lyrics6/lyr ... mming.html

You gotta keep on "swimming". Can't swim the breaststroke any longer? Then dog paddle. Or float on your back and kick. Just keep moving (swimming).

I too see it with my Mom who just turned 86. Dad was her entire life and now that he is gone, I can't get her interested in anything. But she's gotta keep swimming too!

Don't ever, ever give up!!!!!