| Author |
Message |
R TERRY (207.230.142.240)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 2:29 am: | |
Holy Rip Van Winkle, Batman! I thought we were all MUCH younger.
Cory Dane, I would have bet money that you were in your early thirties; at least you sound that way to me.
As I grew up, I heard people say you're "over the hill" when you turn thirty. Then, as I approached the end of my thirties, "over the hill" supposedly happened when you turned 40. Now in my mid-fifties, I can look back and see that, physically, "over the hill" came at about 45. Until around that time, I was, at least in my own mind, always in my mid-twenties, although my increasing lack of hair kept trying to push my looks into my late-sixties. (For a long time I wanted hair like Ronald Reagan's).
Turn 45 and you fall apart! It's a battle from then on, one you don't eventually win. BUT...
I have a cousin who is about fifteen years younger than I am. He was always a little kid to me. He lives in Kansas, I live in Arizona and through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s we didn't see each other for well over a decade. During that time a weird thing happened: He somehow fell into a nasty time warp and aged about thirty-five years! My god, for all intents and purposes he became an old man. What the heck happened to him?
I used to think it was too many cigarettes, too much booze and way too much sun -- his roofer’s lifestyle. But it wasn't that. He got old upstairs! He gave up being young. What a shame.
So, your body may go to hell, but I don’t think you’re really “over the hill” until you give up. I think you can be as young as you feel like being. If you think young, have fun, enjoy everything there is to enjoy and then beg for more, you’ll never get old. I noticed in my cousin that the sparkle was gone from his eyes. Smiling wasn’t on the menu. His fountain of youth was as dry as a dead dog in Death Valley.
Not me, man! But…
If I could go back in time, I would do a few things differently. I certainly would have learned to fly much sooner, like when I was 18 instead of 28; I wasted ten good flying years. And I wouldn’t wait to buy a bus until I was too broken down to change a 22.5-in tire by myself; I should have done that when the first “over the hill” came around. That would have added twenty more bus-years to my life. I am going to miss those lost years.
The best way to enjoy your remaining bus-years is by staying young – young at heart, young in spirit, and young upstairs. (It would help if you didn’t look in the mirror anymore; you can always look at the bus instead…)
“Over the hill” to any self-respecting busnut only means one thing: you can ease off the throttle and get back up to highway speed.
Now that’s more like it!
RT |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.97)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 4:18 am: | |
Hey there Mr Terry
You have paid me a fabulous compliment, err, I think!
Life has handed a rough cut trail for me in many ways and in others, I had a lot of help.
After I was retired, it took a bit of time for me to be able to get over it and to see what there was to see.
In a letter to my sister, I told her of the joys of sitting on the swing at night in the back yard watching the stars or the bright moon. Now and then the hypnotic rumble of the trains can be heard or a passing jet plain overhead. Now that Summer is here, the FireFlys have come out to dance for me, displaying a lighting show that can be seen nowhere else.
Retirement has become almost a second childhood where I can sit and enjoy many of the things that I missed growing up.
Even the conversion has taken on a new Aura for me. It is no longer a race to finish so it can be driven. It has become a pleasant hobby and a place where I can go to do what I now love, building and designing the rare and unusual schemes in the bus. And I might say, that there are many, the wall framing modules for one.
Age for many, and for me, is only a number to record how long you have been here. Your mental age is measured differently. It is measured with your respect for others, Love of nature and just a sprinkle of giggles to keep things fun.
Thanks for mentioning me, It was all MY pleasure.
"Imagine your Dreams"
cd |
DrEd (67.201.149.33)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 6:32 am: | |
65 years old, confined to wheelchair, still converted MCI 1997-2000. Put about 50K miles on her and hope to do a lot more. Physical life is tough, hard even to refuel, but we get it done and really look forward to the trips and driving the coach. Working hard to keep the mental outlook on the positive. I feel young, though the body gives the lie to that. DrEd. |
Earl-8-Ky (207.162.163.19)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 10:18 am: | |
69 years old and have a 76MCI MC8 which I bought in July 96. I have done my own conversion. It serves us well. I had a slight heart attack in Feb 03 if you can have a slight heart attack. It makes you look at things a little different. I personally know DREd. He has done a great job on his bus. He also has a very nice wife Shelba. Two great people. Hope to see you in Sept. DREd. |
TWO DOGS (63.156.216.14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 10:40 am: | |
lots of people here are "handicapped"...I prefer to call it "challenged"...I can not walk any farther than a 1/2 block...but,can still get things done,just takes me longer,.. I built the kitchen sink so I can sit down & wash dishes..when I first started building the bus..it was hard to hold up a drill...can now do it with ease..ya' see...it keeps us young..life...is a bowl of cherries...pass it around |
Frank Allen (64.12.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 10:47 am: | |
cannot beleive the number of people on this board that are into old cars and pilots, seem to go together somehow. for me i get no high as much as i do when im flying a aircraft, some sort of a release from everything else life throws at you.
Frank Allen
4106 TX |
Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal) (4.46.106.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 11:04 am: | |
add my name to the list, when i was in my late teens/early 20's, i was a private pilot, flew Pipers, and I have been restoring old cars up until i was paralyzed 11 years ago. last car i built was a '67 Triumph Spitfire. trailer full of parts when i got her, and i got many compliments when i was done. Mostly like older American cars though. Did El Caminos, Camaros, trucks, etc. Another great thread! all the best friends, Bob |
Terry Hays (68.92.109.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 11:16 am: | |
To R TERRY
I really enjoy your writing. Whenever I come here I look first for your new stuff. Do you write for a livin? |
jake4106 (64.91.33.230)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 1:13 pm: | |
Well, I guess you can add me to the list of pilots, single engine land,, also a car nut..in my eyes nothing better than a 68 charger, but to each his own. My bus is a 62 4106,we have been fulltiming in it for just over a year, but we will never "finish" it. I am just a pup at 48 yrs. I have been lurking here for a few years, and really enjoy the insight you other busnuts share...use it or lose it, Jake |
Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal) (4.46.106.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 2:23 pm: | |
I concur- i loved my 69 Charger! |
ted bueschel (206.176.223.5)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 4:25 pm: | |
Ted Bueschel
My bus experience is like a lot of you guys my first one was a GMC PGA 3301 concerted 1965 then a GMC 4104 and now a non Jersey Transit MC9 been working on this one for three yrs. about 1/2 half way done but use it on a monthly ralley with our Midwest Bus Nuts. I am 70 years old and retired and do a little bit every day on the coach. Also a PRIVATE PILOT Cessna 210. Dont do much flying anymore fuel etc. costly. Using oak for interior that I cut down on our farm had it saw milled and dried and have my own industrial planers overhead pin routers jopinter and stroke sander to make all the interior wood cabinets etc.
Ted Bueschel
FMCA 2535 since 1966 |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.49.251)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 6:18 pm: | |
Ted: Now, that's a Craftsman in the true sense of the word. |
JimG-RTS-Ohio (216.28.73.141)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 10:10 pm: | |
I am fast closing in on 50 with enough projects to last a lifetime. Flying is still in the blood but for now I just carry the Private Pilots license. With a full time job, family and church responsibilities, the bus as expected will be a long term project. I'm sure glad it's stainless steel. Jim G. - 1979 RTS-II 40X96 |
Vern1 (63.164.202.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 10:30 am: | |
Greetings,
Just past 50 last year.
Spent 20+ years doing ultralights and was 2 place instructor for 18 or that. Never injured any of my students and except for dieing of natural causes, they are all still somewhere, flying hopefully!
Restored lots of VWs and other toys, still have 5 Ghias and 10 or 12 bugs. May tow my 99% original 67 Ghia Vert behind my skoolie.
Got started late with Busses, but finished BruinGilda about 3 months ago and have been using her! Do have back problems from numerous motorcycle crashes from the "bulletproof" days of youth.
I get lots of inspiration from you folks who keep on keeping on!
Cheers,
Joe Petty
www.pettypb.com/bus |
Gus Haag (Mrbus) (205.188.116.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 1:25 pm: | |
Like Richard, I am in that over 70 group, grew up in an aviation family (crop dusters) and have always had a love affair with machinery. If you want to look through the archives, you can find out a lot in my two offerings called "Two old men and a converted bus".
I spent a lot of years in the motorcoach industry, and was basically forced into retirement with an ongoing battle with cancer. Even though officially retired, there is never a day when I am not busy.
We spend a lot of time in our old Eagle, and love every minute of it. We are regulated to shorter trips this year due to cancer treatments, but we still steal away every chance we get.
I never wanted the road to death to be a smooth ride, I would rather slide in all crossed up, completely worn out, with a hugh smile on my face, and exclaiming "Wow, what a hell of a ride this has been".
Gus Haag |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (204.193.117.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 2:40 pm: | |
I never wanted the road to death to be a smooth ride, I would rather slide in all crossed up, completely worn out, with a hugh smile on my face, and exclaiming "Wow, what a hell of a ride this has been".
Amen, You should never go your grave saying "Man, I wish I had done/tried that! Jack |
Gus Haag (Mrbus) (64.12.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 3:40 pm: | |
Jack,
You are absolutely right, the two saddest words in any language are, "if only". I have always made it a point to never let that happen.
Hopefully if the health issues will cooperate, we will see you in Jan.
Gus Haag |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (204.193.117.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 4:45 pm: | |
Perhaps getting off topic, but you should never miss a chance to tells friends and family how much you care for them. You never know when you may never have a chance to do that. Jack
PS: Hope we get the opportunity to meet you at Bussin' 2005 |
Ace (24.28.44.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 5:19 pm: | |
Hey Jack... I'm not missing the chance to, uh, well you know! Hurry up and get off work will ya?
Man, do I care about that guy!!!
Ace |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (204.193.117.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 6:01 pm: | |
Ace,
The weekend of August 21-22 looks good from my days "on duty" standpoint. Jack |
Ace (24.28.44.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 8:12 pm: | |
We'll be ready! Should I ask Earl and Dorothy if it's ok to bring it over there? It might be easier for you to take your bus there than at my place since I live in a 35 foot cul-de-sac and my bus is already 40 foot! We might not get the bay doors open if you park next to mine!
What do you think? OR I could bring it your place and save you the trip!
Ace |
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