A Really Depressing Story

[CHenry]

My uncle was 65 years old when I was about 25 and his girlfriend was 24.
She was Fit and super good looking.
As he was also most thought he was in his mid 40's he still raced his cars on the circle track and the straight line 1/4 mile.

You are only as old as you feel.

It aint the age, its the mileage. Im only 50 and half crippled.

 

[John6185]

You are only as old as you feel. [/QUOTE]
Well I feel today like Jack LaLane-93!

 

[CHenry]

So I have this grandma. She's pushing 90, and as she has stopped walking her five miles a day, she's really got to the point where she's not so strong. Been going downhill for three or four years, regressing really fast. Long story short, I decided to take on this project since nobody else is putting any effort into it, even though all three sons have time and means. That's not the depressing story.

Last week, I found a ramp that meets the length and height requirement in my corner of SWOK for a steal! Contacted the dude, drove to his town, and picked it up. As I was pulling anchors off this thing, I started chatting him up. He was an old dude, pushing 70. Had an interesting Army life, and a few good stories to pass what little time I spent on his stoop. I just couldn't ignore how great of shape this ramp was in. Set out in the elements in SWOK, so I asked him about it, even though I felt I was about to open a bleeding wound of a lost aging parent. Turns out, he recently had a VA hip replacement, so they installed this ramp a few days before I showed up to claim it. It was less than a week old. The soot was still around the welds. So, as I try not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I asked him why he was selling it. He replied that his SS and retirement wasn't enough, that just needed the money. I paid him full asking price, $100.

As I drove away, the taxpayer in me was upset at his actions. The patriot in me was sad for his situation. And to top it off, I was both elated and depressed as I drove away with a brand new ramp, pennies on the dollar.

Ya know, I hate to hear this. Makes me sad as well. Fortunately I'm bless to be in a financial situation where I can afford to give and I really get so much pleasure doing so. I make a great salary and paid cash for my new house and truck last year so no bills other than utilities n such. I would have paid him $1000 for the ramp and I would have walked away feeling great about helping. I been known to go to the mall at Christmas time and hand out $100 bills to certain women I would see, a single mother (no ring on) with 3 kids in tow that I felt looked like she could really use a hand up. And that my friend almost makes some of them cry and me too. They always hug my neck and thank me repeatedly. The joy of Christmas is definitely giving.

 

[O4L]

Ya know, I hate to hear this. Makes me sad as well. Fortunately I'm bless to be in a financial situation where I can afford to give and I really get so much pleasure doing so. I make a great salary and paid cash for my new house and truck last year so no bills other than utilities n such. I would have paid him $1000 for the ramp and I would have walked away feeling great about helping. I been known to go to the mall at Christmas time and hand out $100 bills to certain women I would see, a single mother (no ring on) with 3 kids in tow that I felt looked like she could really use a hand up. And that my friend almost makes some of them cry and me too. They always hug my neck and thank me repeatedly. The joy of Christmas is definitely giving.

It seems like money is always tight for me. I wish I could do more for others.

Good on you CHenry.

 

[Snattlerake]

You are only as old as you feel.

Well I feel today like Jack LaLane-93![/QUOTE]
Uhh, Jack's dead.

 

[John6185]

Well I feel today like Jack LaLane-93!

Uhh, Jack's dead.[/QUOTE] I know but today I'm beat, the humidity, working sweating-it took the wind out of my sails.
Jack bought a new Corvette just before he croaked and I'm not buying a Corvette. No sir!

 

[Timmy59]

I would have felt just about like you in that situation. That $100 won't give him near as much help as that ramp would've in years to come if he's one of the 70yr olds that shows wear.

Ya know a man could always return it when the day comes it's no longer needed..

 

[Snattlerake]

Uhh, Jack's dead.

I know but today I'm beat, the humidity, working sweating-it took the wind out of my sails.
Jack bought a new Corvette just before he croaked and I'm not buying a Corvette. No sir![/QUOTE]

That reminds me to not buy a Corvette too.

I was on a roof of a commercial building in Bartlesville Thursday. On two occasions I had to mentally will my hands to grip the rungs before each step back down the ladder. Thirty minutes of water and truck air conditioning and I was ready to go back up.

The worst part of it is I was doing work that was supposed to have been done by other trades before I could get my work done.

Now I have to go back and finish my work next week.