"Used To" -- Remembrances of Past Activities

[jackieschmidt]

I have always said that I did not want to turn into a “useta”, an old guy that sits around and only talks about things he “used to do”.

Granted, I have lived an eventful life so far. I do enjoy taking about the past endeavors of my many years.

But I also like talking about the things going on now, and I want to be a part of those things.

I do not discard the past. It’s what got us here. But I am always looking ahead toward the future and what it brings.

 

[cmysix]

Love you guys, I would trade my testicals for most of yours used too, houses, cars , wives, girlfriends. children, grand children, love, friends, home, being loved, being missed, good jobs, careers . and all the things that make a wonderful lives. MY used too? I used to be the fat kid in school. You know the kid you used to make fun of. I used to have a group of friends that I thought would be life long, until my BFF that I grew up with since the age of 6, Put me so far back at his wedding, I could have been at someone else's wedding, I used to be an actively using alcoholic and drug addict (street corner crack addict)till the age of 45 1/2 and have now spent the last 20 years (sober) trying to claw back some form of a life I have always wanted, Only to look in the mirror to see the old man and know I just don't have the time left to have any thing I ever thought I'd have. Count your blessings as there are those among you that weren't so blessed.

 

[Dos XX]

 

[snert]

Love you guys, I would trade my testicals for most of yours used too, houses, cars , wives, girlfriends. children, grand children, love, friends, home, being loved, being missed, good jobs, careers . and all the things that make a wonderful lives. MY used too? I used to be the fat kid in school. You know the kid you used to make fun of. I used to have a group of friends that I thought would be life long, until my BFF that I grew up with since the age of 6, Put me so far back at his wedding, I could have been at someone else's wedding, I used to be an actively using alcoholic and drug addict (street corner crack addict)till the age of 45 1/2 and have now spent the last 20 years (sober) trying to claw back some form of a life I have always wanted, Only to look in the mirror to see the old man and know I just don't have the time left to have any thing I ever thought I'd have. Count your blessings as there are those among you that weren't so blessed.

You have sobriety, a life and the ability to consider what was lost to another way of life. You have a second opportunity, shortened only by what we are all facing...time. I, for one, am glad you are here.

 

[DirtySteve]

You guys are depressing.. lol.. I used to get out of bed with out groaning and making funny noises. I use to work outside all day long in the heat and be ready to do it again the next day. I used to get hurt and not worry about it because I healed quickly. I no longer heal quickly...And for some reason when I fall the ground seems a little harder. Or gravity got stronger...

 

[dryhumor]

Used to have more time ahead, than behind. In 2018, my mother passed. I was heading to the hospital and received a call from the doctor. The phrase he said during the conversation has stuck with me. Time is limited.

That helped prompt me to retire at 62 this year. I used to average 1100 hours overtime a year. I used to leave for jobs and be gone a week, or two. I used to have a little river boat I never used. I used to have enough frequent flier miles to round trip the planet twice, in first class.

Used tos can be good or bad. As a former co worker used to say “just another chapter in the book”. I’ll keep doing what do as long and best can.

I used to go to the Saturday movies with .50 cents. That go me in, and bought a soda and hotdog.

 

[DirtySteve]

Love you guys, I would trade my testicals for most of yours used too, houses, cars , wives, girlfriends. children, grand children, love, friends, home, being loved, being missed, good jobs, careers . and all the things that make a wonderful lives. MY used too? I used to be the fat kid in school. You know the kid you used to make fun of. I used to have a group of friends that I thought would be life long, until my BFF that I grew up with since the age of 6, Put me so far back at his wedding, I could have been at someone else's wedding, I used to be an actively using alcoholic and drug addict (street corner crack addict)till the age of 45 1/2 and have now spent the last 20 years (sober) trying to claw back some form of a life I have always wanted, Only to look in the mirror to see the old man and know I just don't have the time left to have any thing I ever thought I'd have. Count your blessings as there are those among you that weren't so blessed.

Hey, None of us are perfect. The key is you woke up and realized you needed to change. A very hard thing for someone using drugs to do. By breaking that addiction you accomplished a feat that most of us could not.

Steve

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Used to ride motorcycles. Now with devastating foot injury suffered 6/9/23, probably never again. Here's my Honda ST1100 on Highway One in CA.

View attachment 1486310

Used to sail racing catamarans... now after 6 skin cancer surgeries and too fat for my wetsuit LOL, time for something else. This is NOT me, but is the kind of boat I sailed: NACRA 6.0m Catamaran with spinnaker.

View attachment 1486312

Used to travel a lot when writing adventure travel books... now it's been a decade since I've been out of the country. Maybe New Zealand in 2024? Here's one of my favorite places, Wanaka, NZ in the South Island. View west to the Southern Alps.

View attachment 1486311

Do drop in if you are down this way. There's always some NZ hospitality on offer.

 

[bluealtered]

Just a couple more I learned along with all the broken bones, hospital stays, and surgeries, I learned that the word "never" only means never if you let it. I was told in 1999 that I would never get up out of a chair again, it pissed me off enough that I found a way to keep walking, and building drag race cars, the last one was a NHRA altered, a 6.3 second car that ran 231mph, don't tell me I can't do it ever!

One of the best posters I ever saw was in a Doctors office, it simply showed two words. One was the word "ability" the other was "disability" the word disability had a slash through it. The caption beneath it simply said "It's always up to you".
Every time I'm having a rough time doing something I see that poster in my minds eye and I look until I find a way around the problem. It is always you who will decide if you can or can't do what you want, NO one else can make up your mind but you.

 

[NCIowan]

Just couple more I learned along with all the broken bones, hospital stays, and surgeries, I learned that the word "never" only means never if you let it. I was told in 1999 that I would never get up out of a chair again, it pissed me off enough that I found a way to keep walking, and building drag race cars, the last one was a NHRA altered, a 6.3 second car that ran 231mph, don't tell me I can't do it ever!

One of the best posters I ever saw was in a Doctors office, it simply showed two words. One was the word "ability" the other was "disability" the word disability had a slash through it. The caption beneath it simply said "It's always up to you".
Every time I'm having a rough time doing something I see that poster in my minds eye and I look until I find a way around the problem. It is always you who will decide if you can or can't do what you want, NO one else can make up your mind but you.

Well put bluealtered! Something else I keep reminding myself is “Through Him all is possible”. Prayer has become a powerful part of my life.
Duane

 

[rebs]

I spent a year and a half in Nam and came home ok until I had a heart attack and was told it was from agent orange and also affected my lungs and breathing. I used to drive dirt modifieds and drag race but gave that up when my knees went bad and I have two non-repairable rotor cuff's. I can't hold the shotgun up to shoot trap and not steady enough for pistol matches. So I shoot local bench rest matches and really enjoy it. I gave up deer hunting on the day a slug hit the tree I was leaning against about a foot above my head. I walked out of the woods and never went back. If I had been able to find the guy that fired that shot, I think I would have put a world of hurt on him.
The Lord blessed me with a great family and grandchildren for which I am eternally grateful. At 77 next month I guess I am not doing too bad, I still wake up every morning and look forward to another day.

 

[Cecil S.]

I spent a year and a half in Nam and came home ok until I had a heart attack and was told it was from agent orange and also affected my lungs and breathing. I used to drive dirt modifieds and drag race but gave that up when my knees went bad and I have two non-repairable rotor cuff's. I can't hold the shotgun up to shoot trap and not steady enough for pistol matches. So I shoot local bench rest matches and really enjoy it. I gave up deer hunting on the day a slug hit the tree I was leaning against about a foot above my head. I walked out of the woods and never went back. If I had been able to find the guy that fired that shot, I think I would have put a world of hurt on him.
The Lord blessed me with a great family and grandchildren for which I am eternally grateful. At 77 next month I guess I am not doing too bad, I still wake up every morning and look forward to another day.

Thank you for your service Sir.

 

[rebs]

Thank you for your service Sir.

your very welcome