I was neither bored nor did I think that was very long!
At 31 years, the Army has probably aged me more quickly -- my recent back
problems woke me up on that score - all that "hooah" stuff I did is catching
up. But I wouldn't trade a second of all those times and there are more to
come, I'm certain.
No kids yet, but my wife is 4 years younger. I'm ready to take the plunge
into parenthood, but we'll be fully prepared either way, mentally and
financially.
I love cars and always will -- and if I've noticed one thing about the
"Nintendo kids" -- they love cars too.
Old cars, no matter the marque -- simple to work on, reliable and fixable,
are the tie that binds the generations together.
Enjoy the new year! Living for the moment is more pertinent to those of us
who go to foreign lands at a moment's notice and may get shot at. Don't
sweat the little stuff. Enjoy life and stop to "smell the roses", in our
case, the grease and the petrol.
It's not Middle Age, it's LIFE. The more you live it fully, serving or
selfish, and do the best you can and being a good person, the more you can
be satisfied in knowing that you've lived, loved and learned.
Dan
73 B
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Eastman <william.eastman@medtronic.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, December 31, 1998 12:20 PM
Subject: Middle Age- long and boring
>As we approach the end of the millennium, it is time to reflect. This goes
>double for me because yesterday I turned 40 years old. I am sure that a
>few of my friends who knew me in my twenties lost money yesterday since, at
>that time, I gave no indication that I had enough common sense to make it
>this far.
>
>People talk about a mid life crises. I have gone through a profound change
>in my approach to life in the last few years but I would not call it a
>crises. I prefer to think that I am finally working through a lot of the
>issues that both drove and inhibited my behavior in the past. Where before
>I was worried about raising my children and how they impacted my life, I
>now truly enjoy the time I spend with them. Nancy and I no longer sweat
>the small stuff. We can finally just disagree on something and not make it
>a week long argument that effects other areas of life. A promotion came up
>at work that I was not a perfect fit for it and I not only passed on trying
>to get it, I am actually happy for the person who did get it. This would
>not have been the case five years ago in fact I left a job over just such a
>situation. Some people may look at this and say that I have lost my edge
>but I think I am much more effective at work now because I don't see
>everything as a competition.
>
>Another thing that has been happening is a lot of people I knew are no
>longer with us. It is no longer drunken car crashes that are claiming my
>friends. Now it is heart problems and cancer. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
> Also, a lot of people count on me for emotional and financial support.
>These somewhat contradictory forces pull me towards being more supportive
>and more selfish at the same time. Nowhere is this more evident than in my
>choice of recreation.
>
>In general, I have given up nearly all forms of recreation that take me
>away from home evenings and weekends. Softball, bars, hunting, and
>fishing have all gone away. No one else in the family shared my interest
>in these so time spent was time stolen from what is really important. Now
>I go to my daughters' softball games rather than my own.
>
>The one hobby that has survived intact is old cars. It can be shared with
>others at so many levels that it fits into almost anyone's life style. I
>enjoy researching, buying, and working on them. My family enjoys riding in
>them. Nancy knows where I am at night. I am easy to buy for at Christmas
>(I publish a list). Many people, when they think of old cars, think that
>it is a solitary hobby yet, thanks to this list, I have found many kindred
>spirits that I consider friends. And unlike sitting at a bar all night,
>when I spend 100 bucks on the A, I have something to show for it besides a
>hangover and bad breath. Although I can't guarantee that breathing all of
>these solvents has been any easier on my brain cells or liver. The cars
>also give me examples to use in my many discussions (lectures) with my
>daughters on the importance of hard work, thinking through problems,
>sticking to a job, and enjoying the art of your work. And like it or not,
>they are learning some things about cars.
>
>As far as my taste in cars go, I have returned to my pre-teen preferences.
> The first cars I lusted after were 50's English cars. It was an MGA that
>officially lit my automotive fire and I am lucky enough to have one in my
>garage. Unlike many rose tinted memories, it is everything that I
>remember it to be. The XK 150 will never take the A's place but it is a
>good addition. Nancy doesn't like open cars so the XK will become the
>preferred car when we go somewhere as a couple. The A will always be the
>car for early morning or late evening cobweb clearing drives as well as a
>very personal meditation aid. I hope to get it back on the autocross
>course too once the kids are a little older and the weekends aren't taken
>up by softball and soccer tournaments. After 40 years you get your
>priorities straight.
>
>Regards,
>Bill Eastman- now 40- Older, wiser, but "not dead yet"
>Wife Nancy- forever 25 in my eyes
>Daughters Lindsay (13) and Kelly (9)
>61 MGA- my "cohort in crime"
>58 Jag XK150 coupe the "family sports car" or "Pile of Junk" depending on
>the day
>Freckles the wonder dog asleep in some spot of sunshine on the floor at
>home- now there's the life!
>
>PS Thank you all and have a very happy new year
|