Don't Forget to Have an Adventure Now and Then

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JJPHOTO

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This has nothing to do with pipes, but wanted to share something I observed yesterday. I work in advertising and one of my accounts is a small car dealership ran and owned by an 82 year old man. This place is always full of his coffee drinking buddies. Constantly.

Over the past ten years of spending countless hours hanging out in there each week, I've grown to know each of them, all their stories, and their varied personalities. This story in particular is about a man named Tom. He's up there in years as well and is one of those that comes in the door, barely speaks, and when he's spoken to he just sort of mumbles under his breath - stays on the edges of the circle. When he does say something audible, it's usually something negative - bashing someone politically, griping about taxes, etc.

Well he's been missing for about 3 weeks. He showed back up yesterday and busted through the door like he was 20 years old. His eyes were bright, had a spring in his step, huge smile on his face, and was talking 90 miles an hour at the top of his lungs. I thought, what in the world? Did this dude go get some Viagra or something?

I asked how he was and he walked right up and handed me a picture of him standing next to a boat holding a big red drum he caught in the ocean and his buddy was holding a string of sheep's head fish. He gave everyone copies (like we all wanted to keep copies of his day's haul) and proceeded to tell us all about his RV trip he's been on for that time he was gone.

I listened intently, but honestly I don't remember a lot of what he said because my mind was just churning with thoughts of like - who the heck IS this guy and where is Tom??? He went on for about an hour and never stopped. The longer he talked the more animated he got, and that beaming smile never left his face.

That got me to thinking - I go deer, dove, pheasant, quail, duck, and geese hunting every chance I get. I'm always out doing something. If nothing's in season then I'm out fishing with my boy or we're on some camping expedition. In other words, I don't get in a rut.

These guys at the dealership get up every morning, go to the dealership, drink coffee, stare at each other, go home and eat lunch with the wife, putt around the house a bit, then head back to the dealership to drink more coffee, go home and eat dinner with the wife, then plop down in front of the tv. (how's that for a run-on sentence!)

It's amazing how one break in the routine completely changed this guy's entire demeanor. I think it's important as men, to our nature, to do just that. Whatever that looks like to you may be entirely different than what it is to me or your brother, but I'm convinced now that it's essential - maybe even moreso as we age.

Anyway, that was an experience that really effected me and I thought I'd share it with my brothers here. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go smoke my very first bowl of Haunted Bookshop in my grandfather's newly cleaned pipe! :pipe:
 
There's a good lesson in there somewhere.... Thanks for sharing. Maybe I'll go out for walk this afternoon.

-Andrew
 
Great story and timeless words of wisdom!!! I try to tell my wife the same thing in the spring and fall when I need to go to the coast to surf fish but she just doesn't see it the same way! :lol:
 
These guys at the dealership get up every morning, go to the dealership, drink coffee, stare at each other, go home and eat lunch with the wife, putt around the house a bit, then head back to the dealership to drink more coffee, go home and eat dinner with the wife, then plop down in front of the tv. (how's that for a run-on sentence!)
hmmm... could substitute "dealership" with computer; "stare at each other" with BoB; "drink more coffee" with something stronger"...

... you suggesting I need to get a life? :roll:

...but then I am old :cry:
 
I am older than you :p

There were 3 men,one 70,one 80 and one 90 who were discussing the ravages
of age.The 70 and 80 year olds were complaining about their weak urine streams
and constant constipation problems when the 90 year old man said "I don't have any problems,at 8:00AM every day I pee a strong stream and then I have a full BM".
"What is your secret?" the two younger men asked."I don't get out of bed until 9:00AM",the 90 year old replied. :shock:

Winslow :sunny:
 
As an avid outdoorsman, I believe everyone ought to hunt, fish, or boat! It is by far some of the greatest relaxation one can find! :D
 
JLJ2018 -- great post; thanks for sharing. The title of your post reminds me of something Tolkein might have said in
The Hobbit -- was that a reference? As for getting out and doing things, thus not getting into a rut, I could not agree more. The list of things that make me happy in this life is fairly short, but fairly simple in nature. I go fly fishing every chance I get, which is quite often, sometimes even 7 days a week in the summer. As we move into winter, I find myself getting out my nordic skis and my hockey gear. Today, as I write this, it is snowing as I drink strong coffee and puff on a morning bowl of Irish Oak. I find myself thinking, though I am but a poor fishing guide/photojournalist, that my life is rich, full of adventure, and that I am blessed with great friends in which to share said adventures with. I have a great companion as well, a Shepard/lab mix, female, named Kona. She is ALWAYS ready for the next adventure. Cheers to good friends, great dogs, all adventures great and small, to the pipe and a friendly bowl -- Cheers to all of you!!
 
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