Maudlin thoughts - NOT amateur radio

My brother will be 80 in December. He seems to be going to several funerals of late. I guess we are now at an age when many of our friends and relatives get serious illnesses or die. 

I wonder if our brains modify to accept this as the norm? 

It is interesting how we now talk about illnesses more as we age. There are several friends and relatives who are now in the "firing line". In the past we assumed we would all go on forever. Now we think of our finality.

Once we went to a New Year's Eve party. The host said, "you are not allowed to talk about illnesses". What a good idea!

UPDATE 1433z:  We just heard that one of my wife's best friends has died.  Not unexpected, but so sad for those left behind.

Alive in three centuries - NOT amateur radio

This woman, who died at age 110, was reported as living in the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s. If correct, she is the first woman recorded to have lived in 3 centuries.

My impression of speed - NOT amateur radio

Back in 2013, I had a stroke and was in hospital for 3.5 months. Apart from feeling giddy and my poor voice, I made a good recovery. In the car I drove hundreds of kilometers with no problem.

In the last few years, it is as if my concept of speed has changed.  Glancing down at the speedometer when I think I am going 60-70mph and see I am only going at about 46mph!! Everything on the roads seem to be going fast.  My wife says it is all in the mind, but I go at what think is the right speed, but actually it is slow. It also my worry that my reaction times are slower.

Now, this could just be old age or it could be a result of my stroke 10.5 years ago.

I am wondering others would are "old" also experience this?

Driving is no longer fun.

Acceptance? - NOT amateur radio

Although in many ways I still feel like a teenager inside, I know I am an old man sadly. Some things that would have been easy 50 years ago are now very hard or impossible. Perhaps we all have to accept the person we are now and learn to accept that some things are now not possible - harder said than done!

Acceptance - NOT amateur radio

As we get older, I sense a change.  Every day is a gift. What the future holds nobody can know. It seems right that we appreciate each moment for what we have. The past has gone, but enjoy the now.

Wisdom and old age? - NOT amateur radio

It seems 5 minutes since I was a young teenager! 

Old age has descended on me suddenly. These days I feel older and frailer, as much as I do not seek this.  Some say you get wiser as you get older, but I seem as stupid as ever! 

My advice to those far younger is "you will be old yourself one day".  Milk life whilst you can.

I think one of the things I have to do is accept the "me" I am now and not the "me" I used to be. As we age, it is natural that some of the things we could do we can do no longer. There is still so much I can do. As long as I am able, I intend to enjoy doing the things I can do. 😄

Old age - NOT amateur radio

This came yesterday from my brother.  As one of those old folk, I can relate to it.

You know …… time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. 

I know that I lived them all. 

I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. 

However, here it is …… the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise.

How did I get here so fast? 

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualise it or imagine fully what it would be like.

Yet, here it is …… my friends are retired and getting grey - they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant …… but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! and taking a nap is not a treat anymore, it's mandatory! because if I don't of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit!

And so …… now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! But at least I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I'm not sure how long it will last, that when it's over on this earth... it's over. 

A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done …… things I should have done but truely there are many things I'm happy to have done. 

It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly! 

Don't put things off too long! Life goes by so quickly. 

So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the last quarter or not! 

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life.... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember - and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

‘Life’ is a gift to you. 

Be Happy!

Have a great day!

Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

You may think;

Going out is good - but coming home is better!

You forget names - but it's okay because some people forgot they even knew you!

You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf - but you like the outdoors!

The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore - but you really don't care that you aren't as interested.

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!

You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!

 You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’

You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!

Old is good - 

• Old is comfortable

• Old is safe 

• Old songs

• Old movies

• …… and best of all,

• Friends of old!

So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’

Have a fantastic day! 

Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!

Take care

It's not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

"You'll be old yourself some day" - NOT amateur radio

My mother-in-law said this about 50 years ago. At the time life seemed to be endless. Now I am 72. 

As Michael Portillo (he was a famous UK politician who now is a well known UK TV personality) said, when you are old every year is a year nearer your end, or similar words. Certainly, I am far more conscious of being old. I get tired more easily and I can no longer do many of the things I took for granted all those years ago.

Things that seemed important at 22 no longer are at 72.

What CAN I still do?

Since my 2013 stroke I have been giddy all my waking time, had a very poor voice and get exhausted very quickly. 

All the time I am conscious of all the things I used to be able to do without effort that I can no longer do. Some of these things may still be as a result of my stroke, whereas others may just be because I am getting older.

Maybe I need to change the way I think and focus on all the things I can do rather than the things I cannot.

For example:

• I still manage 2 weekly 2m FM nets.
• I still manage the 2m and 70cm UKAC activity contests each month.
• FT8 and WSPR operation is fine.
• Cutting the grass is still possible.
• Getting breakfast ready is still possible.
• Gardening for short periods is still possible.
• Washing the dishes is still possible.
• Ironing is still possible.
• etc...

Quite a few things are still possible. Getting older, I should expect to find some things harder, so maybe I should accept these and alter my focus. I need to look harder at the things I can do! Making this mental leap is not easy.

Perspectives on old age - NOT amateur radio

Next birthday I shall be 73. Both my dad and granddad died in their sixties. I could die tomorrow or live for many years. 

On the balance of probabilities I probably have not got many years left. Certainly I am more aware than ever that the years are passing by.  

Some of the things I could so easily do are now impossible. I am giddy all the time and driving is no longer a pleasure. 

Someone once advised me to enjoy things before it is too late. Maybe they are right. One thing is certain: the future is unknown.

Getting older - NOT amateur radio

At 71 and a few years longer lived than my dad and granddad, I guess it is fairly natural to contemplate mortality.

Years ago, life seemed endless. These days I am more aware just how finite life is. I suppose I could live another 30 years or I could die today. At one time I seemed invincible whereas I now feel in my last years. More of my friends have died.

Generally I am a "glass half full" kind of person, so I still think long term.

Old age - NOT amateur radio

Maybe this is something that comes with advancing years, but these days I am grateful for small things.

Years ago our full lives were ahead of us, whereas as we get older we are more aware of our brief mortal span. I am grateful to be alive and generally well, that my wife is fit etc.. If this sounds morbid, I am sorry.

Live every day as if your last and think of all the good things, however small.

Getting older - NOT amateur radio

Late last year I turned 70. I am not sure if this is because I am getting (got?) old, but things feel somehow different.

Maybe it is the realisation that I may die next year or in 25 years. My health is likely to get worse as the years progress. Maybe it is the realisation that all that I want to do cannot be achieved. Memories become more important.

Some of these feelings may be as a result of my 2013 stroke.

Live for and in the moment. What will be will be.

Old age worries - NOT amateur radio

In a few weeks I am 70. It is hard to see where the years have flown! As we get older, there seem more things to worry us, although few younger people seem to care, which is understandable.

• Failing health (partner and yourself)
• Children and grandchildren
• Money
• Declining sexual appetite
• Mobility
• Death (partner and yourself)
• etc.

Perhaps these are sometimes best ignored.