[AT] Old tractors and old men

[Herb Metz]

Charlie, and Others, I turned 86 several months ago.  Ten years ago I 
developed severe scoliosis, then old mans humped over condition.  It is not 
funny, but people (all ages and both sexes) clear a path and open any doors 
when they see me coming.  Surgeons reach for the door knob soon as they 
learn that I have heart arrhythmia; also am on my second pacemaker. My back 
gets a bit worse each year;  doctors say to set my own pace.
Barbara and I seriously enjoy gardening; she has a prize daylily garden in 
addition to roses, irises, etc.  I have a large no chemicals vegetable 
garden and sell at both local farmers markets.  Not diplomatic enough to be 
considered a good salesman, but I sure enjoy selling because of the 
conversation sharing with others who appreciate good vegetables.  That perk 
is a bigger plus than I ever expected; in fact I had not thought about it 
until after it was well established.  And that is why I primarily addressed 
this email to you. You are an exceptional conversationalist, so I think you 
would likewise really enjoy the marketing portion of such project.
Yes, we are getting older; last year we had to hire a part time helper.
When I was 15 or 16, I remember Dad telling a carpenter cousin that doctors 
were now telling retiring farmers (many farmers in KS at that time) to "stay 
busy"; their prior advice had been "they had worked hard all of their life, 
so sit down and enjoy retirement and take it easy"; unfortunately many of 
those farmers were being buried a few years later.
Another big perk is getting to use our Allis Chalmers tractors; D-14, G's, 
720 large lawn tractor, and equipment.
Just thinking about a trip to the VA and seeing young veterans in 
wheelchairs, who will be in wheelchairs the rest of their lives (limbs lost 
because of land mines) quickly provides an occasional necessary attitude 
adjustment. Herb(GA)



-----Original Message----- 
From: charlie hill
Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2017 5:32 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Old tractors and old men

I'm 66 now and according to my doctors and all the tests
I'm in good shape.  Blood and urine work all looks good.
No severe prostate problems yet, etc. but my legs are giving
me a fit.  Doc tells me my knees are far enough gone to replace
yet but they are a bit unstable and grind at times.  My right hip
is hurting me.  My ankles have been bad since I tore them up
playing football as a kid.  All of that together along with the stress
and inactivity of looking out for my mom for two years until her death
have turned me in to an aching,  out of shape  old man.  I have been
cleared by my doctors and a physical therapist to go to the gym and
try to get back in shape and I'm going to do that soon.  luckily my
insurance
will pay for most of the cost of that through a program called Silver and
Fit.
Others may have access to another program called Silver Sneakers.
My urologist did a CT scan of my kidneys and bladder recently.  He didn't
find
any problem there other than benign prostate hyperplasia but he did notice
that
I have some deteriorating discs in my lower back so I guess I need to be
careful
at the gym.

Speaking of farming.  As sad as I am that my mom is now gone on, I always
thought
that when that day came I'd be free to do something different with our small
farm.
I wanted to try farming some sweet potatoes, pumpkins, water melons, and
veggies for
sale at a road side stand.  I have almost all the equipment I need to do it
and I even
have irrigation equipment left over from our tobacco farming days.  However,
I just don't
have the drive and motivation to do it now.  I also thought at this age I'd
be able to restore
my tractors and old trucks but I don't have much enthusiasm for that either.

Oh well.  At least I'm on the green side of the grass.

Charlie