I feel pretty good for a 69 year old. No pain meds at all...a little blood pressure med but my doctor is discontinuing it. My buddy, Tom lost an ear drum welding on his side when a hot drop of weld fell into his ear...deaf in that ear now.
At 74 I'm a little slower and take a little longer to get over aches and pains when I do too much but still manage. No meds, no major issues except back, knees etc from years as a lineman. Still doin ok-some things though I let go such as getting on the roof, getting in trees to trim etc(still have my tree rigging and hooks). I would but wife has a fit. Some years ago a guy I worked with retired at 65-decided to clean off his roof-fell on his head- died-retired one week. Another lineman friend (younger than me) was t******* a tree and fell-nothing broken but pretty beat up for a while. The problem is we think we can still do what we did at 35-40. I can still climb poles with no problem and have done it up until last year teaching younger guys but I pay the price after for a day or two and if I fell at this age I would probably be messed up for a while-wife has a fit every time I do this and doesn't want to come watch anymore.
While reading this thread, I couldn't help but think of all the family reunions I remember as a kid. People would come from hundreds of miles around to visit and complain about their aches and pains. I guess this thread is traditional Sent from my SM-G900R4 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
65 years here ,two ankle surgery's here ,no weight bearing for over a year just starting to move around still hurts like hell when I put weight on it, that along with the post polio resulting in weak legs makes it hard to work on the cars, something I really love to do ,been fooling with cars all my life and have enough projects to last tell I am 150 years old ,hopefully I will get some done ,but your posts make me feel good least I know I am not alone in how I feel lol
You need a small pit bike, scooter or golf cart to make those runs and look like you're having a lot of fun on it if he's out and sees you. Don't be surprised if the new guy tries to start an HOA...
Hell with the aches and pains the worst part is having to drain the lizard every 1/2 hour even in the middle of the night and HA on all you 5 cups a day coffee drinkers where do you get rid of all that coffee buildup when your on the road?
HaHa- I used to know where all the liquor stores were, then I knew where all the Dunkin' Donuts where, NOW I know where all the cleaner rest rooms are! My Doctor keeps telling me I need to face my mortality , so I'm building another car. Good Medicine.
The oil soup .I am just glad to wake up in the morning , glad to see no one is throwing dirt on top of me yet.LOL.Bruce.
Dan. That sounds like a GOOD investment . I am glad I only have I gutter on back of our cabin. Bruce.
WOW Hudsonmand.I thought I was the only one with ankles problems. I couldn't walk with out my meds. At night I have to use a cane.Welcome to the club. LOL. Bruce.
Mike I still know where my liquor store is. When the grand kids see me pouring some in with my sprite {for my 1 afternoon drink} they say pop pop what is that? I just tell them it is my medicine. LOL. Bruce.
The rest of the people around here are what I call REGULAR.My place and the other next door have owned the property since the early 50s.The others are salt of the earth working folks.No little kids though,I miss that part.Yelling and playing makes me fell younger. FYI: The ***** has put up a for sale sign. Got indicted on unethical collections practices.Court ordered to sell off ***ets, that he hasnt hide already. Full circle I guess. The walk is good for me but I really need to get back on the stationary bike every day, loose some weight,blah blah blah. Its really all up to me and effort. This thread makes me think about my own stuff and how it relates to projects.Kick in the *** is good. Jim F
**** do I fit in here...A lot surfaced in January of this year....My ankles hurt [first few steps are a douse], my wrists hurt [getting shots now] and my knees hurt, left one from a hit and run Black Lab [They say it will heal itself] and the right one I think has sympathy for the left!! I'm an Inch shorter than I used to be [in height, from my **** up!] so that is why I can see the the speedometer better through the steering wheel; I thought my **** was shrinking..
Whew, I feel like I am in pretty good shape when I read down the list even though both knees hurt like hell right now. Worse problem for me is that I can't squat down to do anything anymore but the answer to that is my Snap-On brake stool that manages to be used on a lot more projects all the time. No replacement parts yet but that may come in the next few months.
Way to go Bob...you are the man. I am only 77 and I hope I grow up to be like you at 84. Built my 3 window deuce in less than 2 years and put over 15 K on it in less than one year. You are so right screw those golden years, let go for a road trip.....
After reading this thread I've come to the realization that I'm not alone in my infirmities, which in an odd way is comforting. I sold my '69 Corvette a few weeks back because I honestly didn't think I'd live long enough to finish it, but after reading the testimonies from guys ten or so years older than me I'm wishing I would have kept it. Still working on my '40 Coupe though, and I'm determined to live long enough to actually drive it. There is no cure for this old car disease that we share, but who needs one!
I'm 66 no health issues, just lack motivation to do much of anything on the projects. First and last one I finished was back in 1975, seams like just yesterday. Bob
I've really enjoyed reading with you guys, your making this 60 year old that has a bad back and neck and that getting up off the floor is a major task feel much better ..... I guess that I don't take enough pills and drink enough coffee !
They said the average age of a street RODDER is now 68 I must be average (69) they can't beat us down .
That is one trade/occupation that I give the upmost respect for. You linemen are the best of the best! My father did it for over 30 years. Still has his rigging as well hanging up in the house. He always says the new boys coming up are making double the money and only having to do 1/2 the work. I love when he gets around with his old lineman buddies and listen to their stories of the old days. Dads been with the power company here in NC for almost 40 years now. Doesn't get in the **** anymore. All he does is train the boys coming in. I'm only 33 but I live everyday with two bulged disc in my back, my right shoulder has slowly been going out over the last two years (doctor has been begging me to have surgery), I also wear knee braces on both knees every day. My left hand is also starting to show signs of arthritis. Im only 16 years deep in the automotive industry. But before that I was throwing myself down flights of stairs and up and down ramps on a piece of wood with four wheels. If I make it to 50 it will far surp*** anything I ever dreamed of. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You're never too old for life. Last week I watched a program that asked questions of people - all those on the program were over 100 years old. one guy Who I heard of previously was 99 when the University he worked for, sacked him. He's now 103 and looks forward to the articles he receives as a scientific magazine editor.! It's not hot rodding, its life, and I'm just a spring chicken, but at 55 years old, I started Post-Grad studies in Law - something I regretted withdrawing from 25 years earlier. Sure it's post-poned my hot rodding quest, but there's still time for that - just look at all you guys.
after 6 hours out in the garage beatin,bangin,cutin,weldin,etc. I walk into the house limping .....the wife "u hurt ur leg?" I say it's my back....wife : I don't understand why ur limping if ur back hurts !!!!! me : it's a long story,get me 5 advil !!!!
I'm not doing bad these days, I'm in the gym 3x a week and it helps a lot. My heart is the best piece of equipment too, totally re-plumbed. But I screwed myself a couple of weeks ago in the garage. I was working on my hood and had it on 2 saw horses behind my Ford. I had to run out for something, closed the overhead door and went. Got back, came in through the side door... can't get to the overhead door with the hood in the way... and the key for that is in the house. Sooo... I get down on my hands and knees, crawl under the saw horses and open the big door. It was maybe a couple of tough minutes, but I did it.
My shoulder still hurts like heck after that fall last Friday night. I have to go see the Dr. tomorrow to get my scripts renewed.I may have her x ray it. Thats my painting arm. Bruce.
The Jalopy Journal
