Where does the time go?

[hickslawns]

I have a post about my friend fighting for his life. He is close to my age. Late forties. Spoke to another friend who plows for us, we hunt together some, and he retired from the same fire department my friend is on. He is also watching Matt fight for his life. Has another friend fighting cancer at a young age, and lost his trad mentor this week.

We are not promised tomorrow. I think COVID opened some eyes for many who lost friends and loved ones early. Make the memories. Spend the extra grand on a vacation with the kids. Pass up the overtime to make it to your kid's ball game. I'm not saying be financially reckless. I'm not saying to quit putting money away for retirement. I'm just saying: find a balance. Even a tightwad like me has no regrets about spending a few extra days or a little more money on vacations with the kids. I grumbled at the time but with both kids in college (and one graduating college next year), I have ZERO regrets about our "big" vacations. The kids still talk about them. They mention the soccer tournament or that trip we brought the grandparents along. They mention the sledding when Garrett hit a pole and got a concussion or broke a collar bone in the motorcycle. . . Rarely is there a mention of a random Tuesday activity of school and work. They remember the fun activities we have done (even if they ended up in the ER. Lol)

 

[brock ratcliff]

Thanks Sam.

 

[Jamie]

"You don't have the time you think you have"

Truer words never spoken.

 

[Mike]

The one that really hits me lately:

I brought my wife (then girlfriend) to my dad's 50th birthday party. I'm turning 50 this year.
I've absolutely wasted so much time and energy on stupid shit that will never matter.

 

[Clay Showalter]

The one that really hits me lately:

I brought my wife (then girlfriend) to my dad's 50th birthday party. I'm turning 50 this year.
I've absolutely wasted so much time and energy on stupid shit that will never matter.

Wow this one hit me like a truck, I did the same thing with my wife for my dad's 50th birthday; and now I am over 50. My wife's mother was 36 when we started dating, she just turned 70.

 

[hickslawns]

How about when you realize you were engaged at about the same age as your oldest child is now? Or you and your wife are each missing a parent who was plenty alive and well and healthy when you started dating?

I'm with you Mike and Clay. Some of these are hitting close to home.

 

[Spencie]

How about when you realize you were engaged at about the same age as your oldest child is now? Or you and your wife are each missing a parent who was plenty alive and well and healthy when you started dating?

I'm with you Mike and Clay. Some of these are hitting close to home.

Tyler will be 33 in June. When I was a kid I always thought about turning 33 in the year 2000. At the time I thought that was so far off. Life is short. Don't wait for retirement to enjoy it.

 

[Clay Showalter]

How about when you realize you were engaged at about the same age as your oldest child is now? Or you and your wife are each missing a parent who was plenty alive and well and healthy when you started dating?

I'm with you Mike and Clay. Some of these are hitting close to home.

Lol my two oldest songs are older than I was when I got married.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

The one that really hits me lately:

I brought my wife (then girlfriend) to my dad's 50th birthday party. I'm turning 50 this year.
I've absolutely wasted so much time and energy on stupid shit that will never matter.

We all have. Being able to recognize and acknowledge that fact is what matters though. There are many that will go to the grave not understand this.

 

[CJD3]

One of the worst things for me is the questions that I come up with over the years that only Dad could have answered. Not things like how how to change the oil. . . Questions about him or family or property only he would have been able to answer.

 

[Fletch]

How many remember the day JFK was assassinated ??? I got dismissed from school early to go home and watch history on TV... Instead went home changed, grabbed the single shot 16 gauge and Sally our beagle... Headed out and shot 4 bunnies and 2 ringneck roosters... I limited out... Damn that was a long time ago... Most on here we're still swimming upstream...

 

[Spencie]

One of the worst things for me is the questions that I come up with over the years that only Dad could have answered. Not things like how how to change the oil. . . Questions about him or family or property only he would have been able to answer.

That is so true. My dad does things differently....very differently. I've told him to start a book of how everything in his house and at the farmhouse in WV works. When he fixes things it is usually with some cheaper but not common way of thinking and parts.

 

[Big_Holla]

One of the worst things for me is the questions that I come up with over the years that only Dad could have answered. Not things like how how to change the oil. . . Questions about him or family or property only he would have been able to answer.

This has been me since the day my dad passed. Definitely a tough subject to talk about these days.

 

[Clay Showalter]

One of the worst things for me is the questions that I come up with over the years that only Dad could have answered. Not things like how how to change the oil. . . Questions about him or family or property only he would have been able to answer.

Truth, this one hits me hard all the time

 

[Bowkills]

Time marches on....randy travis im trying to stay inbetween brothers wearin beads and he smokes alot of dope and daddys drinkin beer listen to the radio stage of life. Hoping dad stay away from that maple tree..... 100 percent staying away from that girlfriend in another town. I try to slow down all the time not get worked up over dumb shit and enjoy whats going on. Hoping to get dad out with his brother perching this year to relive their glory days and get grandchildren in the mix.

 

[giles]

Being a hunting forum I'll share this, and because I actually care about you guys. I just wish I could call him when I kill a deer again.

 

[giles]

That was hard to write and has been in my head since I wrote it. Back when I started hunting we didn't have phones to call and share the excitement. No group text or anything. Just had to walk in all calm and share the news like it was no big deal and be prepared to get tackled.

 

[hickslawns]

I can only imagine Dave. My dad enjoyed hearing about my hunts and helped me hang some stands and drag a couple deer. He was not even a hunter. It may not have been his thing but he enjoyed hearing my enthusiasm. I can't fathom the hole I would have if dad and I hunted together. Thanks for sharing brother. You've got the memories and now you build your own legacy for your kids.

 

[Bankfish]

My old man has been gone two years yesterday. He definitely was a huge influence in my life, particularly hunting. From hunting camp in northern Pennsylvania, to Manitoba bear and deer hunting. If I could only..........

 

[mike hunt]

My Dad's been gone for 8 years, lot of unanswered questions. On a positive note, that Good Morning Selfie thread has been kicking ASS this week.