The Biggest Mistake of my Life

[Jeff Higgins]

Having had occasion to travel just recently, I found myself standing in far too many airport lines once again. My God, when I think of how much of my life I spent doing that... but I digress. In this particular line, I found myself standing with the ubiquitous young traveling couple. Mom had an infant in one of those front carrying packs, sound asleep (the infant, not mom), thank God. Dad was wheeling an empty stroller. Its intended passenger, their three and a half, maybe four year old son, was defiantly refusing to get back into it so his dad could wheel him along and, more importantly, keep track of him. The littler feller was stamping his feet and quite loudly proclaiming "I can walk by myself!!!". He was giving his mom and dad quite a hard time.

So, I looked at the beleaguered dad, and asked if I might give it a try. So, I knelt down and asked "young man, is that your stroller?" He looked confused - or course it was, and why was this stranger asking him anyways? He kind of calmed down, looked up at his dad (who said "it's o.k., you can talk to the nice old man" (he could have left the "old" part out...)), and then answered "yes". So, I told him I used to have one just like it, when I was his age. And then I told him "you know, looking back, the biggest mistake of my life was getting out of that thing. Life got a lot harder after that. In retrospect, I should have sat in that thing as long as possible. Until I got kicked out. You don't know how good you have it - everybody here but you wishes they were still in that stroller. But you have the only one, and you don't even want to ride in it..."

Of course the little shaver had no idea what I was talking about. But, he did get back in. And I thought about my own advice for that whole flight... ...I never should have gotten out of that stroller...

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Having had occasion to travel just recently, I found myself standing in far too many airport lines once again. My God, when I think of how much of my life I spent doing that... but I digress. In this particular line, I found myself standing with the ubiquitous young traveling couple. Mom had an infant in one of those front carrying packs, sound asleep (the infant, not mom), thank God. Dad was wheeling an empty stroller. Its intended passenger, their three and a half, maybe four year old son, was defiantly refusing to get back into it so his dad could wheel him along and, more importantly, keep track of him. The littler feller was stamping his feet and quite loudly proclaiming "I can walk by myself!!!". He was giving his mom and dad quite a hard time.

So, I looked at the beleaguered dad, and asked if I might give it a try. So, I knelt down and asked "young man, is that your stroller?" He looked confused - or course it was, and why was this stranger asking him anyways? He kind of calmed down, looked up at his dad (who said "it's o.k., you can talk to the nice old man" (he could have left the "old" part out...)), and then answered "yes". So, I told him I used to have one just like it, when I was his age. And then I told him "you know, looking back, the biggest mistake of my life was getting out of that thing. Life got a lot harder after that. In retrospect, I should have sat in that thing as long as possible. Until I got kicked out. You don't know how good you have it - everybody here but you wishes they were still in that stroller. But you have the only one, and you don't even want to ride in it..."

Of course the little shaver had no idea what I was talking about. But, he did get back in. And I thought about my own advice for that whole flight... ...I never should have gotten out of that stroller...

I miss sh@ting my pants.

and drooling.... although with enough alcohol, I can almost get back there.... actually both of them.

[GH85Carrera]

You are never too old for a happy childhood. Just keep playing with neat toys. And the best thing of no more stroller is girls don’t have cooties anymore.

[Cajundaddy]

We are all headed for strollers/walkers/scooters soon enough. Don't rush it!

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

We are all headed for strollers/walkers/scooters soon enough. Don't rush it!

Speak for yourself.

The moment that scenario arises I am going HST.

[craigster59]

One thing I don't miss is being circumcised when I was born. That shyte hurt so much I couldn't walk for a year! (apologies to Moses, that was his joke).

[john70t]

Half of our lives are spent trying to get out of the womb.

The other half is spent trying to get back in.

[tabs]

The biggest mistake of my life has been being too nice in suffering all the fools on this Board. Or should I say in being too patient in toleration of what passes for good. Most of the time I just have to shake my head and say "WHAT THE FK" to the insipidity expressed by Board members.

The amount of conscious enlightenment expressed on this Board is akin to a 15W light bulb. Dim at best is the word for it. Blind people can see sic have more clarity in discerning situations than you people or humanity in general. Even your leadership in particular are no better than blind people stumbling about. Nobody has vision.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I miss sh@ting my pants.

and drooling.... although with enough alcohol, I can almost get back there.... actually both of them.

Old age is coming where that will be the accepted practice again.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by tabs

The biggest mistake of my life has been being too nice in suffering all the fools on this Board. Or should I say in being too patient in toleration of what passes for good. Most of the time I just have to shake my head and say "WHAT THE FK" to the insipidity expressed by Board members.

The amount of conscious enlightenment expressed on this Board is akin to a 15W light bulb. Dim at best is the word for it. Blind people can see sic have more clarity in discerning situations than you people or humanity in general. Even your leadership in particular are no better than blind people stumbling about. Nobody has vision.

Perhaps you should take your far superior intellect elsewhere ?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

....Nobody has vision.

I clicked on this thread expecting pics of crazy wimmims?

I see nothing.

[peppy]

Be careful what you wish for

It is nice when another adult will say something kind to a child. I know we have had our share of people having words of encouragement with our son. Too bad he couldn't hear it.

[T77911S]

life is cruel.

we start off peeing the bed and in diapers and a stroller and when we get old we are peeing the bed and in diapers and a stroller.

(my wife takes care of an old lady and quite often she has to change her sheets because he has peed the bed).

[slow&rusty]

Yawn..old men and old stories...here we go.

Just kidding, thanks for sharing Jeff.

[recycled sixtie]

Tabs I would block you facebook style if I could. Your pomp and arrogance is unbelievable. If you find this board so unrewarding why do you even post?

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

perhaps you should take your far superior intellect elsewhere ?

like

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by john70t

Half of our lives are spent trying to get out of the womb.

The other half is spent trying to get back in.

Yer math is way off for normal men!

Up to about age 10 girls are gross and have cooties,
From puberty to 16 or so girls become more and more interesting.
After whenever the first time you know you are gonna want to do that again!

So unless you die at 30 or so way more than 1/2 your life is spent in pursuit of more time inside. With good health men can make it to thieir 80s and more enjoying the physical aspects of the female body.

So to be more accurate your testament should be the first 9 month trying to get out, and the next 80 years trying to get back in.

[flatbutt]

Having made many mistakes the choice is difficult. I'd say not fighting my medical discharge harder and making a career of the military.

[Jeff Higgins]

He sure seemed like a happy, energetic little guy, full of curiosity and wonder. Of course he wanted nothing to do with that stroller - there's a big, wide world out there to explore. He's got no time to just sit there and watch it pass him by, even at just three or four years old. I really envied the young man. Somewhere along the way, our enthusiasm and wonder seems to diminish a bit.

I find myself, in my retirement, doing my best to recapture some of that. I feel like I'm actually doing a pretty good job of it. Even if I had a stroller big enough to fit me, and someone willing to push it, there is no way on Earth I would confine myself to one. Not just yet. That day, as many of you have pointed out, will get here soon enough. For now, however, "I can walk by myself", to quote my new little hero.

As an aside (and one elicited by one of our frequent contributor's anonymous reaction to this thread), I'll never understand those who seem to have allowed the hardships, disappointments, and heartbreaks of life fester into bitterness and resentment. Take old "Mr. One Star" himself, poor, bitter old Georgie, who took the time out of his morning to swing by and register his signature one star retort. My success and happiness have proven to be, as evidenced by his many deeply personal attacks levied against me, to be some sort of an unshakable point of resentment and bitterness for him. I cannot believe how deeply inside his head I've managed to burrow, with, in retrospect, so little effort on my part. Me just being me, and relating stories and experiences garnered after I got up out of my stroller.

Oh well, enough of that. Life is too short. That next stroller ride is looming, and I still have far too much I want to do before I land in it once again. Others can sit there and stew, convincing themselves they have "prevailed" in some way, through a silly little star on a silly little forum...

[vash]

if that kids still living in the parents home at 28, that dude pushing the stroller is gonna come knocking..