The reminders that life is temporary are becoming closer together

Chris said:
I've had two friends recently die. One was my guitar buddy who I always used to jam with.

He was 70 years old and the other guy was 69. I'm 39 though so I'm not sure what that says about me. Somehow many the people I'm friends with are considerably older than I am.

In any case, I really miss those guys and it's served as a reminder to me that life is indeed short.
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Zorba said:
That's interesting. I've always gotten along better with those considerably older than I am - and to a lesser extent, those who are considerably younger than I am. My age mates not so much - I've found many/most people right around my age to be fuddy duddies and/or "whitebread" as Hell.
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I'm right there with both of you guys. Throughout most of my life, I've always had friends who were a decade or two older than I. I've always attributed it to my enjoying the company of responsible, sensible individuals. You know the type: fuddy duddies and whitebread as hell...;)
 
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Squatch said:
I'm right there with both of you guys. Throughout most of my life, I've always had friends who were a decade or two older than I. I've always attributed it to my enjoying the company of responsible, sensible individuals. You know the type: fuddy duddies and whitebread as hell...;)
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The ones I ran with may have been a decade or three older - but fuddy duddies they were not!
 
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Zorba said:
I too enjoy the old stories. I grew up steeped in WW 2 history, a subject that interests me highly to this day. My father was Navy - Pacific theatre.

Another realization hit me recently. I learned Belly Dance at the knee of many a storied old crone - most of who have now retired and/or have passed on. But now I'm the "crone" - storied or otherwise - and am passing "it" on to a younger generation of dancers. I taught my current teacher how to dance with a veil - and she has surpassed me which is all any teacher wants!

Once in a while I'll be in a workshop being taught by another old timer - and we usually know the same dancers!
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My grandpa was Flying Tigers in WWII, Pacific Theatre. He had all sorts of awesome stories but sadly I was such a young age that I didn’t appreciate them the way I would of in my thirties.

This is one of those things you wish you could get the younger generations to understand. Listen to your elders because the stories and wisdom they have is something that is truly special.

Maybe part of it is just the fact that a big part of me has always yearned for simpler times.

Pass your stories on, because those are the stories that will hopefully be preserved for generations. Though now everyone is so consumed with their smart phones that they simply don’t care.

Oh damn…I’m starting to sound like you 😉
 
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Chris said:
Oh damn…I’m starting to sound like you 😉
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So... When do you start your Belly Dance classes?

But I hear you - I was raised to respect and more importantly, "pay attention" to history. Maybe if more people would pay attention, they'd realize we're starting to re-live several different past epochs - none of them good ones!
 
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Zorba said:
So... When do you start your Belly Dance classes?

But I hear you - I was raised to respect and more importantly, "pay attention" to history. Maybe if more people would pay attention, they'd realize we're starting to re-live several different past epochs - none of them good ones!
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Which is interesting because I was raised the exact opposite way in that no one ever told me any of this. Somehow I just came to this conclusion on my own. I’m glad I did though.

You’re right though. We are indeed reliving the past. In fact, I might argue that what’s going on right now isn’t that far off from what was going on in the 70s, at least to some degree. A major difference now being that we have never ending flows of information at our finger tips.
 
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Chris said:
Which is interesting because I was raised the exact opposite way in that no one ever told me any of this. Somehow I just came to this conclusion on my own. I’m glad I did though.

You’re right though. We are indeed reliving the past. In fact, I might argue that what’s going on right now isn’t that far off from what was going on in the 70s, at least to some degree. A major difference now being that we have never ending flows of information at our finger tips.
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Yea - the 70s, the 30s, and the late 4th century. I'm sure there's others.
 
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Chris said:
I think the reason I get along with older folks so much better is because I really enjoy hearing their stories about times I never got to experience. I love sitting around and listening to older folks talk about those sorts of things. I only wish I had this sort of wisdom when I was younger because I could have listened to so many of these WWII veterans that have long since passed.
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You're a rare bird Chris. It's very uncommon to find a listener or even someone your age with the attention span (electronics).
Kudos.
 
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I'm not good at it, but writing helps me cope. In 2005 I wrote something for my young Daughter. It was relevant then and seems more relevant today. The poem is called "Take". That said, my picture and my words.....

Take

Take the time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures

Especially that friendship you dearly treasure.

Take an opportunity to help someone out

Because that’s what life is really about.

Take a quiet moment to whisper in someone’s ear

All those special words you know they want to hear.

Take the occasion to tell someone you care

And that you’re nearby, if they feel the need to share.

Take a risk and love like there's no tomorrow

Each day already holds enough pain and sorrow.

Take a moment to steal a special kiss

If you don’t it’s a moment you’ll surely miss.


Aw09_7R-moOcfSGNQFlyJh4FHTXvYTIB2DcmJn1ZDPPt8wlugQ.jpg
 
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Irun said:
I'm not good at it, but writing helps me cope. In 2005 I wrote something for my young Daughter. It was relevant then and seems more relevant today. The poem is called "Take". That said, my picture and my words.....

Take

Take the time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures

Especially that friendship you dearly treasure.

Take an opportunity to help someone out

Because that’s what life is really about.

Take a quiet moment to whisper in someone’s ear

All those special words you know they want to hear.

Take the occasion to tell someone you care

And that you’re nearby, if they feel the need to share.

Take a risk and love like there's no tomorrow

Each day already holds enough pain and sorrow.

Take a moment to steal a special kiss

If you don’t it’s a moment you’ll surely miss.


View attachment 331509
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Well done, very cool. Thanks for sharing
 
I lost my Dad in 2019
Cousin at 16 yrs old in 2017
Grandpa of cancer in 2015
Aunt from a car accident in 1997
I went to all those funerals there have been other losses but not that tight with.
I was in my grandmothers room and she has this note from my grandfather. Not sure when he wrote it but it sure made me smile

C50B2E3A-BAC2-42A7-87CD-7252CA267494.jpeg

It reads
“You choose where we will go to eat after the meeting.
When I courted you I thought you had extra pretty hands and I still do
Your giving me butterflies
I know -
I’ve been thinking about you being a gift to me
You’ve made me very happy
One of these days I’m going to run off with my secretary”

(She was his secretary)
 
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I know people but I have no friends anymore, and I like it that way. I wave at the neighbors at the lake but that is it. The neighbors would come over all the time until the wife told them I don't socialize.

I keep busy doing stuff for my son, his wife, and the grandkids. There is always something that needs to be done at one of my houses. I wouldn't have time for friends if I wanted one.

My older brother died along time ago, he was 27. My parents died 12 years ago.

I'm done rambling for now.
 

 
 
This thread grabbed my attention and I’ve been thinking about it for a couple days. I lost my parents as a kid and now I’m middle aged so it has been a lot of years. I was lucky that I had a few adults in my life that helped me out with some guidance but nothing could replace my Mom & Dad. I’ve had my share of struggles due to this loss but I’ve benefitted in a few ways too. I believe that it made me a better husband and father and I spent a lot of time with my kids. Those years go quickly so I’m grateful that I was so involved with them. Another thing that I have done is keep in touch with a few old friends. Sometimes its getting together and other times its a call or a text saying that I'm thinking of them or a simple memory from back in the day. I never was bothered with the attitude that it was “their turn” to contact me. I just reached out.
 
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Chris said:
I think the reason I get along with older folks so much better is because I really enjoy hearing their stories about times I never got to experience. I love sitting around and listening to older folks talk about those sorts of things. I only wish I had this sort of wisdom when I was younger because I could have listened to so many of these WWII veterans that have long since passed.
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I see your point and I agree with it, but I have swung the other way. After “retiring” a couple of years ago I decided I needed something else. I took a job with a small tech startup where I am now slightly more than twice the age of the next oldest employee. I enjoy working with these ”kids” and I believe that they enjoy working with me as well. Half the time I have no idea what they are talking about so I have to ask them to explain. But at the same time, their lack of experience in all things worldly is amusing. They are oh so bright, but oh so clueless at times. It makes for an interesting dynamic. I was only going to do this for a year or so but I am having so much fun I can’t see ending it. And when those stock options come in I'll be rich!🤣
 
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TurboTJ said:
I see your point and I agree with it, but I have swung the other way. After “retiring” a couple of years ago I decided I needed something else. I took a job with a small tech startup where I am now slightly more than twice the age of the next oldest employee. I enjoy working with these ”kids” and I believe that they enjoy working with me as well. Half the time I have no idea what they are talking about so I have to ask them to explain. But at the same time, their lack of experience in all things worldly is amusing. They are oh so bright, but oh so clueless at times. It makes for an interesting dynamic. I was only going to do this for a year or so but I am having so much fun I can’t see ending it. And when those stock options come in I'll be rich!🤣
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They keep you youthful and on your feet, nothing wrong with that. I believe this is a door that can swing both ways for sure.
 
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