Meandering thoughts of an old man

       There's a dead mouse in my 1905 bath tub, and I just take it stride these days. Of course I'll collect and dump it today, but the usual people that are grossed out by it I tend to treat like Marines, like if they don't like it, they can dump it, too. I am not the head maid in my mind, though I am most of the time realistically.

            And what goes around comes around. This old bath tub design and shape that the mouse is in is now a high end item at the local Loews. Who would have thought so when I used it to bathe in as a young kid. Then it was a poor person's tub, like left over from the old days. Fortunately, my ancestors did not dump it for something more "modern".

            Now these meandering thoughts are woven between practical and idealistic. Such is normal to me. And I am age 65 right now.

            And like most people,  I want to offer my opinions that I think will benefit my progeny and friends. But I also know that unsolicited opinions generally go in one ear and out the other ear to most people forced to hear me speak.  So the dilemma is to get this focused group to ask for my opinion, and I guess I am not as slick as I would like to be in this regards.

            So let 'em suffer I would say when they decide to reject my musings and use their own judgment. Such I suspect is the history of humanity. What a shame, but that seems to be the way it is. Said another way, I no longer talk till I am "blue in the face". Rather I focus on myself and just letting other things happen, which I anticipate includes their probable future misery, which is also a way to learn, unfortunately.

            To change subject, I am not afraid to die. Heck, I have already died once, in a WalMart parking lot in Cookeville, TN.  And one of the fellows who saved my life and brain was an ex Coast Guard guy, which really hacked me off as a Marine. Talk about an ungrateful person, though later I did get to thank him in front of his wife and child. And he did do a good job in my case. And my death then was both quick and painless.  So now I have to go die again...bummer. Now I do fear dying over some long, drawn out way, like from cancer. Both the money and burden to my progeny is really what I fear. Again, dying itself I really don't fear.

            I am not as strong as I used to be. I assume it is because I have been losing testosterone over time as is normal I am taught to believe. The effects on me are becoming obvious.  Now I have to use my brain more, and give things some time, too. That seems to work just fine for all my inside and outside chores I still have to do. Just give it time, and use patience I would say.

            I am learning to slow down, like become more patient.  I still enjoy sharing one story at the local grocery when inviting somebody to get in line in front of me when it makes sense. I used to live in Atlanta, and moved up to where I am now, somewhat as an effort to slow down. Call it learning and working at and becoming a type B personality from a type A personality. Anyway, most people where I live usually give me a laugh these days when I invite them to cut in line, and also say thank you. Whether they are being  that way because I am an old man, or just using common courtesy, I don't know for sure, nor do I really care. I just enjoy helping people where I live and when I can, and when it makes sense to me. And people where I live still also enjoy courtesy, and even say and hear things like "you're welcome".

            Being "rural" is not as difficult as a half-century ago. I can still get sweet onions from Peru during the winter, for example. For an old person, that is still amazing to me in 2013. And I appreciate and say thank you to all those that make it happen. And, of course, I have fall backs, too. Said another way, I don't assume the status quo will go on forever. Hence I wish I could share this info with my progeny if they would even listen.

            So to conclude this post, good luck if times get hard. And if times don't get hard, good luck, too.