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Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
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PostPosted: Mon 09 Dec, 2013 11:11 pm    Post subject: Getting old is..............         Reply with quote

.......................... an absolute bee-otch. (some off-off topic musings)

Recently I spent the week at our academy for annual in-service training. Next month we have twenty three members of our agency retiring. This is something of a record, and primarily due to the current state of our upper chain of command. If they can go, they are. So in a very short time I'll be in the upper ten percent of our agency regarding time on the job. I spent an afternoon driving a patrol car around the EVOC course I'd never even sat in before, as they no longer issue what I've been driving. When I hopped in the drivers seat the instructor asked me, "Have you ever driven one of these?" I replied, "Nope, so hang on sonny." I also spent several hours in defense tactics throwing around people half my age, and was asked when I was retiring several times over the course of the week. The kicker was sitting at a table with a dozen other Troopers and Lieutenants at lunch and realizing they were all younger than my two oldest children. Jeez

This last week one of the best partners I've ever had retired after twenty nine years of service. I tried to convince him to stay and not leave me alone with all the youngins' but he wouldn't buy it. I now know the separation anxiety my first partner of thirteen years felt when I transferred. I now work on a shift with men who were largely in grade school when I first put my Trooper pants on. At least my Lieutenant has a couple of years on me, so I've got one other grown up around. Laughing Out Loud They're all good men and I feel lucky to work with the crew I do, but we aren't really peers. I'm affectionately known as "Ol' Crusty". Shocking, I know. Razz I was also forced to change the sights on both my carry and competition guns, as my eyesight has been changing and black on black sights are no bueno now.

And the final kicker? Thursday is my infernal birthday! One more year closer to the big adios. I'm sure the doctor will soon tell me I need to take yet another pill, or some other shot in my ass every couple of weeks. Mad Youth is definitely wasted on the young. There are a couple of bright spots though. I've been notified that I'll be receiving deliveries from both Albion and Arms & Armor next week, so that eases the pain a little. See, this was about swords after all. Wink

"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
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Lancelot Chan
Industry Professional



Location: Hong Kong
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PostPosted: Mon 09 Dec, 2013 11:38 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well, happy birthday to you, though a bit early. Happy

Getting old like you are was already aging gracefully. Big Grin

Getting old like I am, being full time on sword profession, no stable income, no stable living.... is a terrifying future.

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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 2:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Aww...Pat....I'm currently in the half-a-hundred club myself. I know you...I've seen you..I only wish I were as big and muscled as you. Do as I do, and lay back and enjoy the years. Give yourself to others, as Gandalf would to a young Hobbit. Laughing Out Loud Age gives us aches and pains, but the wisdom we receive is what makes us men......and warriors. Wink Big Grin ...Love ya, bro....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Robin Smith




Location: Louisiana
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 4:25 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I've been having a bit of that myself recently. My wife convinced me to head back to school to finish my degree and probably go on to get my Masters. So I find myself surrounded by students who are about half my age. My eyes are going, and so now I have to wear glasses to read... And top it off the oldies station started playing Nirvana and Alice in Chains.

I am valiantly resisting! I will not go quietly into the cold dark night of oldness! Young forev.... <cough> <cough> <wheeeeeeeze>

Happy B-Day!

A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
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David Lewis Smith




Location: NC
Joined: 26 Aug 2003
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 4:52 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I was the old guy on my team for a long time. It is funny I did Griffin Groups MMTT twice with people half my age, Bwhahahaha.

My three thoughts

Getting old beets the alternative

Old Age aint for sissies

No one gets out of this alive

David L Smith
MSG (RET)
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Karl Knisley




PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 5:10 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello
When I turned 29, for the 20th time, I had to finaly accecpt I was 50....traumatic Now I will just have to be 50 for twenty years :-)

"Dont get old...you`ll live to regret it"
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Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz




Location: Michigan, USA
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 5:17 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I've always thought of you as 'Ol Crusty ...
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Matthew Amt




Location: Laurel, MD, USA
Joined: 17 Sep 2003

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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 7:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

David Lewis Smith wrote:
Getting old beets the alternative

Old Age aint for sissies

No one gets out of this alive


Those are great! I always cheer people up with, "One good thing about aging: Eventually, it ends!" But I have a morbid reputation to maintain. Just turned 51 myself, and have been very lucky with my health even though I've never really been athletic or "fit". Actually went to see a doctor a couple months ago! So the tennis elbow is annoying, but overall I can't honestly complain much on that score.

My dad is still kicking at 80, and with all that I've accomplished in my hobby in the last 30 years, starting out with zero skills or information, I'm curious to see what I might do in the next 30. It *would* be great to retire someday, but although my government job is more or less secure, it's basically a dead end.

Ouch, damned elbow.... It's something to do with my computer table setup here at home, I keep changing it and trying different heights but something still isn't right... I wanna pound metal!!

Happy Birthday, Patrick! "FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!" (Kidding!)

Matthew
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Randall Moffett




Location: Northern Utah
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Reading list: 5 books

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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 7:29 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Happy Birthday! I am still rather a young man at least I tell myself that. I started to feel old when I asked my class of undergrads what they remembered about 9-11.... and only a few of the older students had recollections of it. I'm going to need to get videos or something of people's memories of the event for this section of my class to work in the near future. Time is a very odd thing. Moves really fast it seems the older you get and super slow when you are young. That is indeed sad.

RPM
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Robert Muse




Location: Washington
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 8:01 am    Post subject: Old         Reply with quote

Well Happy Birthday Pat,

As for the other, been there done that! After watching several years of new kids come in, I looked around and found very few of the old gang left. Procedures were changing for the worse, I refused to change that much so decided it was time to go.

After giving most of my life to the Feds, I pulled the plug a year ago and have found life more enjoyable.

All the best
Robert
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Roger Hooper




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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 9:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I've found that once you get to a certain age, the pill parade begins, and it tends to keep on marching beside you. Maybe you can get rid of one or two of them, but a new one will get added to the end of the line.
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 10:12 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I really can sympathize with you, Pat. The guys I work with are all young enough to be my children, but I can still work them into the ground. They sometimes ask me--"How the hell do you do it?" I reply--"Somebody's got to be here to wipe your baby @sses."......They call me 'the Veteran'. Laughing Out Loud Go outside and swing a blade or two. Take that big Dane axe of yours and whack something. You'll feel better. Laughing Out Loud Laughing Out Loud I know I do. I can throw my Cawood Viking sword into the air, watch it flip, catch it by the grip, and take out a water bottle in one swat. Not bad for an old guy. Laughing Out Loud Laughing Out Loud ----But I still have band-aides standing by... Laughing Out Loud Laughing Out Loud .....Happy birthday, Pat!.............McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Joel Chesser




Location: Oklahoma
Joined: 23 Oct 2003

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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 10:42 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I hear ya. Granted I am Only 27, but the other day I found myself visiting home, and At my younger brothers college. While I waited in the student union for him to get out of class I looked around and realized I was surrounded by kids. I sat there going "when did they start letting children into college?" Eek!
Ol Crusty huh? I can see that. Wink I bet you regret telling us that part now huh? Razz

..." The person who dosen't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one."

- Luke 22:36
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Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 1:19 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I remember on Happy Days when Howard turned 50.
Marion said: "You aren't old, you're middle-aged".
Howard replied with: "how many 100 year-olds do you know?"

Happy birthday Old Crusty Happy

Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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Mark T




PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 1:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting old is..............         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:
Getting old is...

//

I've been notified that I'll be receiving deliveries from both Albion and Arms & Armor next week, so that eases the pain a little. See, this was about swords after all. Wink



So, getting old is a reminder to buy more swords.

I can roll with that!

Chief Librarian/Curator, Isaac Leibowitz Librarmoury

Schallern sind sehr sexy!
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Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
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PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 3:43 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you for the kind thoughts gentlemen. In two days I'll be forty eight and the half century mark is rapidly approaching. I don't bounce as well as I used to and I think my days of fast roping out of a helicopter are just about done. On the other hand, I look back at myself at twenty four and wouldn't go back, and while the mistakes of my youth are catching up with me I'm still in better shape than most men my age. My father is eighty seven and showing no signs of packing it in, so they won't get rid of me any time soon. My wife and I are enjoying our empty nest, having sent the last of our brood off to the Navy a year and a half ago. Having raised them since we were kids ourselves, I have to say we're having a great time with just the two of us. I have a steady job with decent pay for as long as I want it, as well as the respect of my peers. No one has any serious medical issues or problems either, so life is pretty good overall. However, as many of you can sympathize, you reach a point in your life where you ask yourself, "Where did that all go?"

Quote:
As for the other, been there done that! After watching several years of new kids come in, I looked around and found very few of the old gang left. Procedures were changing for the worse, I refused to change that much so decided it was time to go.


I feel you Robert. The profession has changed dramatically in the last twenty years, as have the people entering it and societies view of it. I can't say I regret it, but I wouldn't do it again and can't recommend it. I'm rapidly approaching the point where it will be time to move on and leave the business of being societies garbage collector to those younger and less disillusioned than myself. Big Grin


Quote:
Ol Crusty huh? I can see that. Wink I bet you regret telling us that part now huh? Razz


Not at all. Own it! That's what I always say. I'm also known as a "hurter of feelings". Don't ask Master Trooper Kelly for his opinion unless you absolutely and really want it. I even hurt my new Captains feelings about two years ago and got a days suspension for it. On the other hand, the Colonel attached it to my weekend off so I got a long weekend out of the deal. It worked out in the end. Laughing Out Loud My Major used to be my team leader on the tactical unit so we've known each other since the good old bad days. He told me, "Pat I hope we're never here again." in his best possible official voice. I told him, "We've known each other too long for me to promise you that." He just rolled his eyes and said, "I guess I better take what I can get." We have one of those touchy feely groups within our agency called the Peer Support Group. You know, one of those things where you sit in a drum circle and pass the talking stick around? Every time an opening on the team comes up everyone jokes about me putting in for it. "I can see Pat on the Peer Team.......Are ya dyin'? Then rub some dirt in it and get back to work ya baby!"

According to FedEx, my Principe arrives Thursday, so happy B-Day to me!

"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
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Mark T




PostPosted: Tue 10 Dec, 2013 10:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Let us know what you think about the Principe!

And happy birthday!!

Chief Librarian/Curator, Isaac Leibowitz Librarmoury

Schallern sind sehr sexy!
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Nathan Robinson
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PostPosted: Wed 11 Dec, 2013 12:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Happy birthday, Patrick!

I'm old, too. I'll be 45 in June. I don't look so old, though, so there's that. Dating younger women helps, too.

.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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E.B. Erickson
Industry Professional



Location: Thailand
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PostPosted: Wed 11 Dec, 2013 3:17 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeez louise, what a bunch of young whippersnappers! I recently turned 62.

Happy Birthday, Patrick!

--ElJay
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William Swiger




Location: Reston, VA
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PostPosted: Wed 11 Dec, 2013 5:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Happy Birthday Patrick!

You guys are making me feel old at 51. Wink

I retired from the Army after 25-years and am working civil service for a Defense Agency. The military got too politically correct and the last few waves of new folks plus new policies made me glad to go. I do not miss any of it.

Non Timebo Mala
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