Wednesday, December 21, 2022

‘You are OLD!’ I was told.

 Today’s one of a kind:

 This Ford looks like it will bite! But it should not get stuck!


Some thoughts for today:

Yes, eighty years old is OLD. I sometimes forget I am old.  As a rule the brain does not wear out, like our muscles and skin.  Well those don’t wear out, but they sure do not age well. LOL

This small 25 lb. back-pack seems as heavy as 60 pounds once did. Skin knows the aging process. We grow many little extra bumps and knots.  Skin gets rough and easily cut or torn. Those blue spider veins show up. If you are over 60 you PROBABLY know that. 

Think about your brain? You have your whole life stored there. I still THINK I can do what I once did. I still remember math tables and formulas. I know 'Pi' is 3.14.  Remember:  Area=Pi r square! A comedian corrected that, “Not so,” he said ”Pie are round, cornbread are square!”

Out of all my math studies, I used one formula in my work. That was Pythagorean Theorem (figuring the hypotenuse of a triangle). I used that to make sure a house foundation was SQUARED or correct.



After I retired and traveled, when laying off a new house, son Mark would call, “Dad I need that guy Pathag’s formula again!” He knew how to input the formula into his calculator, but refused to write it down.

I walked today wearing my pack, no problem.  As I walked I asked myself, ‘is this hike smart or wise?  Is it wise to start in January/February time frame?’

Believe it or not the Appalachian Trail can be crowded if you wait until spring to start. With my hearing problem I steer clear of crowds. Cold temps do not bother me much. Over 2,000 men and women will start this year, most of them will start in March-May. The crowds thin out within the first 200 miles. About one fourth of the folks who start actually complete it. So if I can be a 100 or so miles ahead, I might see one or two a day.  That is my mind set.

If I LISTEN TO MY BRAIN and start this crazy hike, it is less than 30 days until my planned start time. The trail is 2,198.4 miles (3,538 Km)

Nite Shipslog

PS: There is one thing that might put me later other than a big snow in Georgia, that is, INCOME TAX FILING TIME!!

5 comments:

Victor S E Moubarak said...

I'll say this, you are very brave to go on these long hikes. I wish you well, whenever you decide to start, and I pray the weather will be OK for you.

Enjoy yourself Jack. God bless you and your family always.

Mevely317 said...

Yep. Both Tom and I can identify with the body's aging processes. But how I envy your memory! Thankfully, those answers I found hard to grasp can now be found by a few clicks on the keyboard. Working smarter, not harder. LOL!

With the crazy weather patterns, I've wondered about the date of your hike. But then, this isn't your first rodeo -- and you've the prayers of friends and loved ones going with you!

Chatty Crone said...

I totally agree the aging process is hard. I will be 70 next and I don't know if I will be lucky enough to make it until 80. You are so healthy too. Good luck on your hike!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

My oldest son once told me all old people look the same to him. That was when he thought anyone over 40 looked old. Little did he know he would never get old. He and my DH died young. We cannot help growing older, but we can keep a young attitude toward life and keep moving forward. Good for you doing exactly that ! Keep going Jack and I'm sure you'll make it!

Glenda said...

OH, JACSHER...I WISH YOU THE BEST... WOULD JACKIE,JR TAKE A LEAVE AND JOIN YOU TWO??? He does not need to work and would be a blessing along the route, PRETTY SURE HE WOULD BE Handy