So many things I wish I had taken an interest in growing up.

Mr. Ed

Mr. Ed

Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
Location
Central NY
The prime of life slips away without notice, but I am not entirely to blame for not living at top capacity as life makes living anything but simple and clearcut.
I wanted to be a preacher like my and great grandfather until I came to know the truth about my dad.

Nonetheless, I attended 2 years of Bible College for increased understanding of the Christian faith and rule out the possibility of ministerial service. It was not a waste of time, I learned if anything I was not cut out preaching.

I used to think I was a leader until taking a leadership course in bible college revealed to me a common leadership trait is to have followers. Independence is the nature of my being; leading or following no one except for the path I choose.

I'm not a carpenter, I can't hit a nail straight. I worked as painter, a train boxcar loader and UPS loader. Nowadays I have neither skill, strength or endurance to do those things today.

I want to work somedays and somedays I'm happy to do as I please without the restrictions of employment. Alas money is the key ingredient in my desire for employment. I like to spend money, the money I earn from employment and without a personal income I'll not buy anything without consulting my wife.

You might say, scuba diving is my hobby if I gain certification. Without certification I have a bunch of scuba gear to sell.

I can hike a little until my foot starts hurting. Swimming is an option at the YMCA, so is Yoga. I want to learn to prepare and experiment with foods and recipes.
 

Mr. Ed said:
The prime of life slips away without notice, but I am not entirely to blame for not living at top capacity as life makes living anything but simple and clearcut.
I wanted to be a preacher like my and great grandfather until I came to know the truth about my dad.

Nonetheless, I attended 2 years of Bible College for increased understanding of the Christian faith and rule out the possibility of ministerial service. It was not a waste of time, I learned if anything I was not cut out preaching.

I used to think I was a leader until taking a leadership course in bible college revealed to me a common leadership trait is to have followers. Independence is the nature of my being; leading or following no one except for the path I choose.

I'm not a carpenter, I can't hit a nail straight. I worked as painter, a train boxcar loader and UPS loader. Nowadays I have neither skill, strength or endurance to do those things today.

I want to work somedays and somedays I'm happy to do as I please without the restrictions of employment. Alas money is the key ingredient in my desire for employment. I like to spend money, the money I earn from employment and without a personal income I'll not buy anything without consulting my wife.

You might say, scuba diving is my hobby if I gain certification. Without certification I have a bunch of scuba gear to sell.

I can hike a little until my foot starts hurting. Swimming is an option at the YMCA, so is Yoga. I want to learn to prepare and experiment with foods and recipes.
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Love your post!

The opening was a reminder to me that your words are the truth.

Our prime truly does slip away without notice. :(
 
Mr. Ed said:
Nonetheless, I attended 2 years of Bible College for increased understanding of the Christian faith and rule out the possibility of ministerial service. It was not a waste of time, I learned if anything I was not cut out preaching.
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Interesting. Raised in a small rural community in a very religious family. From the time I was old enough to walk, I was to become a minister in an evangelical denomination. One full semester in my second year of Bible College, I student pastored a small rural congregation. By the end of that second year, I knew ministerial work was not my calling.

Fell in love with a beautiful girl. When we announced our engagement, my grandmother pretty well disowned me. She was Lutheran! That doctrinal interpretation did not fit the denomination's doctrine I had been raised in. Over the years, now, have seen more tears shed over religion and family differences when those two things should be the strong points of our lives. (Incidentally, that "Lost Lutheran" and I will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary in September!)

Needing to support a new bride, I stumbled into an industry I knew nothing about. Finally retired from that industry at age 70, no college degree, and part owner of a regional engineering firm. Loved what I did. Had a part in making life better for people and the communities in which they lived. Very rewarding!!!

Retrospectively, I wish...
I would have spent more time in elementary and high school with an open mind to other careers rather than being totally focused on one.
I would have learned to speak Spanish fluently as that really would have made life easier late in my career.
I would have taken more time from my career to teach. I did teach continuing education seminars from time to time. And, upon retirement, substitute taught at a trade school. Loved teaching.

We can't go back. But, overall, have enjoyed spending most of my life with the most beautiful, patient, and loving lady I could ever ask for. All three of our children have been successful in their careers and have blessed us with awesome grandchildren. We opened out home to 104 foster children. I walked one young lady down the aisle in 1990, being the only "Dad" she had know who hadn't abused her emotionally and physically. Life is good......
 
Interesting topic. I wish I had taken more of an interest in learning to manage my money. Would have saved a lot of grief over the years.
Wish I had taken up an instrument and stuck with it. For most of my adult life I have wanted to learn piano. Never have.
 
I was told by a career councilor back in my college days that I should be a minster. Lol. I'm really not one to tell others how to live no matter how much money I could make from it.
 
I don't think I've missed out on interesting things through out my life. I've had the good fortune to be able to quit a job & learn something totally new. Began in teen years as apprentice butcher to being accepted by Kroger Co. as full time retail butcher. But didn't work for Kroger I joined the U S Navy. I got out of the Navy after 10 years. The list is long for jobs that held interest until they didn't. I quit & tried something else. I doubt that would be possible now.

At this point in my life doing nothing most of the time works for me. But recently I was bored & decided to completely renovate one bathroom. Ripping out the tile floor, removing all the fixtures exposed problems like floor not level, water shutoff valves frozen & those broke off when removing. Plumbing & masonry work part of prior job list so no problem there.

Shower deck drain wouldn't align with what the home was built with. Overcoming that obstacle & providing a 15 degree drop from deck to floor drain took carpentry skills & knowing how to measure, cut & use schedule 40 PVC pipe & fittings.

Cutting & setting tile, cutting & soldering copper tubing for shower supply water all skills learned over the years.

Next project. My wife wants an indoor plant growing system. Custom shelving, custom electrical for lighting. Construction of something to catch any spilled water I'm still thinking about. Last is building it for removal when she gets bored with that.
 
I used to get flack for *going with the flow* all my life. Sure, I made stuff happen that I had to make happen, like earning a living and taking care of my kids, but mostly I just let life take me wherever it was bound. I don't regret that at all. I only regret not using better judgement on a few occasions while I was dating, and only because my kids were effected. Still, those few lapses in judgement put us on a trajectory that was beneficial in the long run, so I feel like they had to happen, or at least that it's ok that they did.
 
Looking back, there are always things I could have done better. However, life has been good, for the most part...a great wife, nice kids, enough money to live decently, and reasonably good health. That's quite enough for me, and I don't spend much time dwelling on the past.
 
I'm afraid to go down this route of wishing I had behaved differently. During the pandemic, and now, I have begun an in-depth life review. I want to remember, I want to remember why, but I can't deal with regret. The regret that.............I didn't do those things. I'm trying hard to look in an impassioned way. I know me pretty good. Just want to forgive myself and be in peace and not be wistful for what was never done.
 
I am fortunate enough to be able to enjoy where I am in life and feel very fortunate to have been able to have experienced all I have up until this point. I realize that if I had done things differently in the past I wouldn't be where I am today and could be dead. So I don't look back and wish I'd done a lot of things differently.

Life is and has been very good and I am very appreciative of the fortunate life circumstances which have allowed me to have such a life.
 
Knight said:
Next project. My wife wants an indoor plant growing system. Custom shelving, custom electrical for lighting. Construction of something to catch any spilled water I'm still thinking about. Last is building it for removal when she gets bored with that.
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It'd be really cool if you post any progress on that. I'd be interested.
 
There's not much that registers on my "could -a, would-a, should-a" meter. The one thing is that I wish I'd been a better friend to some people. Being preoccupied with school, sports, work (3 jobs) and, eventually, girls; I didn't make enough time for enough people, especially one of my best friends. He later committed suicide leaving a beautiful wife and two children. I could see something wasn't right but should have been there when things got really bad for him.
 
chic said:
I was told by a career councilor back in my college days that I should be a minster. Lol. I'm really not one to tell others how to live no matter how much money I could make from it.
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I was told by a career councilor back when I was in community (2-yr) college that the only paths open to me were either getting married or joining the military since I flunked the aptitude test.
 

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