I'm that old guy

In reply to Don49:

Thanks for sharing; it helps to hear things like your story. I am still recovering slowly from a procedure on my lower back and have one scheduled for my upper back in a couple of months. This year will be tough but I will know which way things are going in the next 12 months.

I agree that it is all about keeping your head on straight and continuing to push yourself every day. I am coming to terms with the fact that I might never race competitively again or work productively, but just really do not know what the future holds...

Meanwhile, I take it day by day and find little things within my limits to keep me happy enough.

tb man. I admire your attitude and strength. I can only hope I have a bit of your steel to keep looking forward when I meet my real challenges.

I suppose part of my aches and pains are a bit of a wake up call. I see my the hero of my life father, now barely able to walk with a cane. He liked cars, but wasn't a mechanic. The tower of a man ran marathons and gave everything to the family. I now realize I'm next. I'm wearing out. Unlike cars, I can't fix it. Whoa.

Thanks for all the sharing folks. This puts it all in perspective.

In reply to freestyle:

Thanks, man! I am no superhero though; I fall down physically and mentally all of the time.

Like with everything in life, it is all about getting back up again.

To move away from me:

My Dad was a GRM'er before that existed. He has had more cars than years, most of them cheap transportation to keep us all fed. When we work on cars together he forgets his age, temporarily. He forgets that he is in his late 50's, works about like he is in his late 40's and still tries like he is in his 30's. The next day he always moves and bitches like he is in his 80's and I am right there with him!

I noted, some of what was attributed to old age is just going out and doing physical work that you have not done all winter. True, age makes it more painful.