Its strange to see your parents change over the

fort_knox · December 2003

years into people you don't recognize to much anymore. Aside from the physical changes that are obvious, there are the subtle changes associated with their aging that effect their personalities as well. It seems like they are slowly and gradually letting go of what once was important to them.

I have been fortunate to have both of my folks so far. They are divorced, have both remarried, and are again divorced or widowed at this point...alone again; likely for the duration.

I had the pleasure of their company over Christmas. My Father will be leaving for home in MO in the morning. Everytime I see him, he is slowly slipping away...becoming less physically able. He was once an eager shooting buddy when we visited...he here, or me there. He is only 69, but gets around slow, has faint/dizzy spells occasionally from a weak heart, and his eye-sight is worse from cataracts and occasional high blood sugar...he has type II diabetes.

We went shooting today at one of the ranges nearby. He doesn't enjoy it much anymore. He was once a crack shot, but is now a bit shaky, and has vision problems. I am sure it must be frustrating for him.

I could never hold a candle to him with my marksmanship years ago. I wish it were still that way. I don't receive any pleasure in scoring better than him now. I don't think it bothers him, but he has apparently passed that point where this activity is pleasurable for him. He went along today I think because he thought it was important to me.

It was a nice day and I coaxed him into eagerly poping a few rounds with a few handguns I brought along. He still has some interest, but it takes some encouragement to spark it.

Shooting was a bonding experience for us once upon a time, but it isn't what it used to be. I guess I will have to learn to let go of that for his sake and let him sit it out from now on. I have noticed this trend the last few years, but it is painfully obvious now. I enjoyed today as is was a wise thing to do since it happened, and will be thankful for that. Its time for me to change gears now and be content with where he wants to go from here.

These thoughts are just my ramblings, but I would be interested in hearing your reactions/thoughts to this phenomenon if you have experienced it.

Best Wishes To All For The New Year!

DancesWithSheep · December 2003

I'm afraid this is likely your (and my) future, as well. It is not limited to the shooting sports, and there is no Viagra to correct the problem. Our pets go through the same thing. And if there's anything sadder than this waning of interest, it is an old fool's feigning of it. Just a part of life: Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

pickenup · December 2003

I have watched many people go through the process you are describing.
I am afraid, I am somewhere in the middle of that path, myself.
I have lost interest in most of the sports that I used to excel in.
As with your dad, it is because of physical reasons.
They say, "With age, comes wisdom"
It is a sad wisdom, when a person realizes, that they can not hold back the hands of time.

Accept the changes in him, and enjoy the fact that you still have him. As I am sure you do.

The gene pool needs chlorine.

pabooger · December 2003

The saddest part of watching your parent grow old and regress, is the fact that you know that is what is in store for you! I lost both of mine a few years ago after a long battle of sickness, hospitals and nursing homes! I do not want that to happen to me, I hope I go quickly before I reach that point!
Poppy loved to hunt and shoot right up till the day he died! At one time he was a crack shot, and in later years he aqcuired diabete's. He still hunted and fished till he was in his 80's but it bothered him that he could not perform as well as he used to! He still enjoyed going along and watching the kids and grandkids.
Just turning 50 I to have to push a little harder, to do the things that I used to enjoy so much! The knees aren't what they used to be, the aches and pains are increasing, and yes you loose some of the fire that you once had! If it wasn't for the kids I probaly would have cut back on my hunting activities awhile ago. Alas they have rekindled my enthusiasm, and am enjoying the sport to it's fullest once again!

Your father probaly cherish's the time shooting with you as much as ever, and you need to keep encouraging him to do so! As we get older we think of things that might have been, we don't function or feel as well as we used to! Depression and laziness comes much easier!
We start thinking about times of our mis spent youth!

Enjoy him while you have him, and encourage him to stay active and to do things with you,, you will miss him when he is gone!!

To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!

njretcop · December 2003

I too, am at that point in my life. Besides the fact, that nature is slowing me down, the heart attack I suffered three years ago, didn't help any....... [:(]

Charlie

"It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com

Swwbo · December 2003

My mother died when I was 24 from leukemia she was 53. My Daddy is another story.. He's 67 and gets around like he's 45.. You would never know he's in his 60's by looking at him. His father (my grandfather) is 96 will be 97 Jan. 6th.. Papa is one tough cookie. He gets around pretty well. When he's eyes started going a few years back he went out and bought a 60" TV.. He loves watching his baseball.

wundudnee · December 2003

I've played both hands of this game. My dad and I had many enjoyable times and I had to see him dwindle and pass. I have had my times when I couldn't run far enough or fast enough. Now I still have an interest in guns and shooting, but my interest in hunting has faded. My son and I get together when we can and shoot. There is no way I can keep up with him now, and I don't even try. I get about as much pleasure watching him having as good a time as I did when I was younger. Treasure the time with your dad, I know he does.[^]

How does that old saying go? "I'm not the man I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was." Or maybe "All thing come to he that waits."

....................
Old? First you forget names; then you forget faces; then you forget to pull your zipper up; then you forget to pull your zipper down.

ndbilly · December 2003

wundudnee - You reminded me of a line from one of my favorite movies, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Walter Huston to Tim Holt about aging: "I'm not the man today I was when we started out. Next year, next month, next week, I won't be the man I am today."

chuck · December 2003

Who ever called old age the "Golden years" Was a FOOL, must have been the Dr. they get a lot of our gold as we get older. I am 66 and have been retired for 9 years, so I beat the SYSTEM. I have enjoyed my retirement. Yes I have akes and pains, I do not enjoy things as much as I used to. It takes me longer to do things now, but I have the time and if it dont get done today, So what. I still enjoy my guns and target shooting, dont go hunting any more, used to love Elk hunting, that was the days when you could get an Elk Tag.
My Dog is 7 years old and is having hip problems, so I guess we will grow old togeather, I just cant let him run as much as he would like. Old age is not a bad thing, It's a part of LIFE. We just have to learn how to injoy it.[:0][:0]

alledan · December 2003

My father died when I was seven. I still have my mother who is way up in age. She is going thru many life deminishing situations that seem to remove her more and more from us and toward that day when she passes on.

Because I have some severe health problems she will say that she doesn't know who's going to die first-me or her.
When one has to go i hope it is me that way i won't have to suffer her loss. I guess it is my idea of copping out.

RancheroPaul · December 2003

There's NOTHING Good about Growing Old............!

I Miss The World I Grew Up In!

offeror · December 2003

One of the few advantages of moving back to Indiana from L.A. 12 years ago (other than the luxury of my Constitutional rights) is the chance to spend time with my folks in the 70s. I used to come home once a year for 2 weeks at Christmas, and I'm sure if I were still doing that I would be shocked at their appearances each year. As it is, I'm still not happy to see aging, in them or me, but it's different now. I'm frankly surprised to see them still healthy and me beginning to show the sad results of my slower metabolism over 50. I guess I will be lucky if I grow old as gracefully as they are doing.

T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."

Life Member -

n/a · December 2003

We all walk the same path! But put the shoe on the other foot, Just think about what your parents went through watching you grow up!
the changes and the things you did to drive them crazy, watching you learn, the new experiences , and the mistakes ya made. No wonder us old folks are losing our minds,

"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"

"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"

whiteclouder · December 2003

My Dad lived to be 87, my mom is still alive. Took him shooting the last time when he was 84 and with a .22, (the one he shot as a boy believe it or not) he could still shoot a four inch group, off-hand at 50 yards using iron sights. BUT, thirty minutes and he was ready to go home and sit in his chair with his cat.

I'm simply going to refuse to grow old. When I start to slow significantly, I'll put the brakes on, full stop.

Clouder..

NOSLEEP · December 2003

Man does not cease to play
because he grows old....
Man grows old because he
ceases to play....

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not,
and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.

DancesWithSheep · December 2003

quote:Originally posted by fort_knox

I received a call from him a couple of hours ago to let me know that he made it home safely!

The child is the father of the man.

dcon12 · December 2003

I am at the age where my kids have moved out but still need my support. My mother in law lives with us and has for three years. I went from raiseing kids to raiseing my mother in law. But if the truth be told, I would not have it any other way. it is nice to be needed.

"Right is Right, even is everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it"

Rosie · December 2003

One of the hardest things to do when growing old is admitting you can't do things the way or as good as you use to. I would bet he enjoyed your outing more than you know. I have one son and my old heart sings when he says, "Dad would you like to go to the gun show this weekend?" Or "Dad I'm coming over to try out a new gun, gonna be home?" I never had a dad to do these things with so cherish every moment and don't stop doing them. It would give me pleasure just to watch my son shoot even if I didn't fire a shot.

Its strange to see your parents change over the

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