Whichever series you'd like, Ted.
What's Something You Experienced For the First Time in Your Later Years?
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I accomplished not liking any of my Later Years for the first time.
You're not supposed to LIKE them.
Youth is wasted on the young...
Thank you for asking that. Thank you very much. I spent my entire life absolutely terrified of lawnmowers! My family never owned one and Mom never allowed us kids around when any mower was operating, saying objects could fly so fast, some lady didn't even know she was hit till she looked down and saw a wire sticking out of her leg, and gravel could be flung with the force of bullets.
Once (I was probably 8-10 years old) when taking my sister to the hospital, we saw an old man limping out holding a hand gushing blood--I can still picture the red blood against the blue paper towels on his hand. He had suffered a lawnmower accident and was turned away--it was a bone injury and that hospital did not do those, he would have to go to the next town--30 miles down the road! Mom was shocked, saying, "They shouldn't send him away in that condition." They didn't even try to bandage it, just a loose wrapping of paper towels and hit the road, Jack. I think at least his wife or someone was driving and he didn't have to drive himself like that, but I was horrified.
When we were visiting out east the summer I was ten the newspaper had a report of one of two-year-old twins being chopped to ribbons by a lawnmower. That was a riding lawnmower, of course. Years later a friend told me of an accident in which a kid about the same age was not killed, but castrated, so they turned him into a girl. I not only never touched a mower which was turned on, I wouldn't even stand near one--I had to have something between me and it.
This went on till the beginning of this summer. I never liked the guy mowing our lawn--he was grouchy, surly, and stupid, and I only put up with him because his mother is nice and I felt sorry for him because his sisters both died young and tragically. He works at the city cemetery and presumably has to mow the one sister's grave unless he has arranged for one of the others to do it. This year he herniated himself and went into the hospital for an operation. I'd had it up to here with the cemetery crew who are all kinds of obnoxious. The last straw was when they hacked my friend's Christmas wreath to pieces--I don't mean took off a corner, but must have destroyed the entire thing with a weed whacker--it's the only way it could have been so shredded and scattered--then they didn't even pick it up! I was several times there having to pick up pieces flung over a wide area! I don't know whether this guy was responsible (he is far from the only idiot on the premises) but I said that's it--I'm buying a mower! I bought one unused but secondhand, unfortunately not very good. I've mowed the lawn starting at age 53, only a handful of times and the mower is in the shop. I tried to get someone else to mow, only one response and that person could not start their mower either.
By the way, this is the first mower our family (not counting sisters' husbands) has owned since my parents were married in 1960!
Once (I was probably 8-10 years old) when taking my sister to the hospital, we saw an old man limping out holding a hand gushing blood--I can still picture the red blood against the blue paper towels on his hand. He had suffered a lawnmower accident and was turned away--it was a bone injury and that hospital did not do those, he would have to go to the next town--30 miles down the road! Mom was shocked, saying, "They shouldn't send him away in that condition." They didn't even try to bandage it, just a loose wrapping of paper towels and hit the road, Jack. I think at least his wife or someone was driving and he didn't have to drive himself like that, but I was horrified.
When we were visiting out east the summer I was ten the newspaper had a report of one of two-year-old twins being chopped to ribbons by a lawnmower. That was a riding lawnmower, of course. Years later a friend told me of an accident in which a kid about the same age was not killed, but castrated, so they turned him into a girl. I not only never touched a mower which was turned on, I wouldn't even stand near one--I had to have something between me and it.
This went on till the beginning of this summer. I never liked the guy mowing our lawn--he was grouchy, surly, and stupid, and I only put up with him because his mother is nice and I felt sorry for him because his sisters both died young and tragically. He works at the city cemetery and presumably has to mow the one sister's grave unless he has arranged for one of the others to do it. This year he herniated himself and went into the hospital for an operation. I'd had it up to here with the cemetery crew who are all kinds of obnoxious. The last straw was when they hacked my friend's Christmas wreath to pieces--I don't mean took off a corner, but must have destroyed the entire thing with a weed whacker--it's the only way it could have been so shredded and scattered--then they didn't even pick it up! I was several times there having to pick up pieces flung over a wide area! I don't know whether this guy was responsible (he is far from the only idiot on the premises) but I said that's it--I'm buying a mower! I bought one unused but secondhand, unfortunately not very good. I've mowed the lawn starting at age 53, only a handful of times and the mower is in the shop. I tried to get someone else to mow, only one response and that person could not start their mower either.
By the way, this is the first mower our family (not counting sisters' husbands) has owned since my parents were married in 1960!
Not caring what others thought. That took some time.
Boxing and painting
That's awesome Lily, congrats to you !!
So happy for you. Love and green lights!!
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Woo Hoo! - Great! Congratulations
I got married [but it was not for the first time] at the age of 48 
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
I went back to school after getting a wee pension from the military. The first place I tried was Herzing College where I took a "Clinic Office Assistant" course which was quite fun and very interesting. I was 44 and most of the girls were in their early 20s.
The second course I tried was a six month course at Red River College when I was 47. (again studying with 20-something-year-old girls).
This was followed by getting married (to Andy, in Scotland) when I was 48. So now I have been working as a medical transcriptionist for nine years.
Oh yes, and also - (what Maskins said) - not caring as much about what others think about me and becoming much more confident happened as well.
I was never what you would call a "shrinking violet", but I did gain more self-confidence with age.
The second course I tried was a six month course at Red River College when I was 47. (again studying with 20-something-year-old girls).
This was followed by getting married (to Andy, in Scotland) when I was 48. So now I have been working as a medical transcriptionist for nine years.
Oh yes, and also - (what Maskins said) - not caring as much about what others think about me and becoming much more confident happened as well.
I was never what you would call a "shrinking violet", but I did gain more self-confidence with age.
The realization that Self Matters. After raising children, having a career, caring for parents, I figured out I didn't want to die with the music still in me. Still on a learning curve, but getting better at doing things for me.
Also learned about Tao and am trying to input that way of thinking into my life.
Also learned about Tao and am trying to input that way of thinking into my life.
Hmmmm......took a ballroom dancing class,a stained glass class and ventured far from home(lol for me anyway) with only a GPS and a buddy.----- and......well......I did get to fullfill the lifelong dream of meeting my favorite author this past year too! You're never too old to be goofy,have fun and to try new things!
This is indeed an accomplishment and much to be proud of.Published a book.
Took a woodworking class in my late 30s as girls weren't allowed to take Shop when I attended high school.
Took Tae Kwan Do classes when I turned 40 and received my first degree black belt two years later. Was going toward my second degree but a knee injury made it too difficult to do the pivoting necessary so had to stop.
In my 50s with the help of a really good counselor and group therapy, finally accepted that my needs were just as important as others' even when it meant incurring the disapproval of some of the people closest to me and temporarily completely distancing myself from them because I was no longer willing to act the way they wanted me to.
Not sure what I'm going to do this decade--I'm already behind the curve so need to step up my game.
Took Tae Kwan Do classes when I turned 40 and received my first degree black belt two years later. Was going toward my second degree but a knee injury made it too difficult to do the pivoting necessary so had to stop.
In my 50s with the help of a really good counselor and group therapy, finally accepted that my needs were just as important as others' even when it meant incurring the disapproval of some of the people closest to me and temporarily completely distancing myself from them because I was no longer willing to act the way they wanted me to.
Not sure what I'm going to do this decade--I'm already behind the curve so need to step up my game.
Joined an online community
Met Stephen King
Took a flight longer than 30 minutes and visited Los Angeles
Tried Salvadorian food, and Hawaiian BBQ......loved both.
Drank a kumquat margarita
Visited Washington, DC
Went to Walt Disney World
Changed jobs
Got a massage
....all after I was 40
Met Stephen King
Took a flight longer than 30 minutes and visited Los Angeles
Tried Salvadorian food, and Hawaiian BBQ......loved both.
Drank a kumquat margarita
Visited Washington, DC
Went to Walt Disney World
Changed jobs
Got a massage
....all after I was 40
I can't think of anything
Everything interesting I've either experienced when I was younger or have yet to experience.
I see Ms. Mod left out the part about learning how to use a wood chipper.....
That came naturally--no real training necessary. Same for the chainsaw although in both cases I did make sure to read about safety measures.I see Ms. Mod left out the part about learning how to use a wood chipper.....