Anyone want this "midlife" blogger title?

Apparently I've entered into a chapter of life beyond "midlife" and can live without this blogger title. Anyone want it? If so, send me an email with what you would do with it and a link to some writing samples. I want to give it to someone who will put it to better use than I did. cheers, davidcoakl at gmail.com

Lake trip July 2008

 

Lucchese to Louis Vuitton: Falling Apart After 40~This is "fixin' to" get ugly!

Lucchese to Louis Vuitton: Falling Apart After 40~This is "fixin' to" get ugly!

A Blog About Midlife Worth Checking Out

Midlife - A Journey is a blog written by a dad who is on his second marriage.

What caught my eye is his recent (March 2nd) post and his description of himself as a loner and observer. While I love getting together with friends I find that it rarely happens and that when I have those opportunities I usually choose to miss them. I don't know why I miss these opportunities in favor of staying at home and accomplishing little things that hardly register on the accomplishment scales.

Here's the paragraph from his blog that I'm referring to:

I have spoken before about the fact that I've spent a lot of my life being a loner and an observer. I haven't actively sought friendships and in fact I've probably feared them in some ways. Safer that way sometimes. The mother of my children has had no problems along those lines and has had many friends to lean on during those times. And I'll say again that the failure of the marriage was in my eyes my fault, not hers.

Midlife is unique for each individual, but I'm certain there are plenty of similarities in some of our experiences that warrant some sharing of our notes. I'm going to find more blogs about midlife or written by midlifers and post my thoughts on their thoughts. Perhaps THAT will help me get through this severe case of writers block!

I Got Carded!

I vow to purchase all of our groceries for as long as I live from Shoppers Food Warehouse.

Yesterday the lady at the local stored asked me for my driver's license! I immediately asked her to marry me. I explained that I wanted a wife who would think I was still young enough when I was 90 years old!!! She never did answer me.... But, that's probably ok as I'm already married.

I'm looking forward to my next visit to that store and buying some brewskies.

Lastly, my family thinks I look silly in this tie-died tee... but I don't care, I have my image to maintain. :-)

Sad

My friend Barry M apparently couldn't deal with his life any longer. A mutual friend called me this morning and told me he committed suicide last night.

Barry was one of my first customers when I started my computer wholesale business. I met him in January of 1986. He enjoyed giving me business in the beginning and often talked about it when we ran into one another. We both missed those exciting days when a 20Mb hard drive was huge news!

I rarely saw Barry or his family, but coincidentally ran into his two sons, who are in their young twenties at a local watering hole just 3 weeks ago. I was blown away at how much they had grown up. I've known them since they were tweeners.

I asked about Barry and they told me he wasn't doing well. They said he was depressed and struggling over a decision by his wife to leave him. I asked them both repeatedly to tell Barry I said hi, that I loved him, and to have him call me. A few days later I sent an email to the older son to be sure he had my contact info, but I never heard from any of them unfortunately.

Obviously I wish I had taken the initiative to reach out to Barry, but I really didn't think he wanted me around during this crisis. We weren't that close.

Just sad. No mid-life is bad enough to justify suicide in my opinion.

I'll be back soon with some lighter things to post about. Meanwhile keep your chin up and make the best of your situation, whatever that may be.

Mid-life crisis worst for men in late 30's

I came across this article about a UK research study where over 1600 people were interviewed and the results seem to match up well with my personal experience. Check it out at: Mid-life Crisis Study.

Comments?

Harry Potter in his Midlife Crisis - Rated R

Parents - this video is rated R. It's ok for a PG-13 movie, but I thought I'd err on the side of being careful.

Harry Potter 25 years from now in the midst of his midlife crisis! :)

Video is a few minutes long and some of you will be able to related to Harry's issues.

The Awesome USS New York

Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Center




USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."

The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are made of in this country!
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Kevin Driving

Well, it's been a week and Kevin hasn't wrecked. He got a job too! California somethingerather. He got a raise on his second day! He seems to be enjoying it and that has to be a great thing for establishing his views on work for the future.

Here's a pic of him driving off to work! ;-) Actually a pic taken by me from my gocart at Massunutten, a resort here in VA.

Seems someone else has figured it out!

I ran across this post and agree with a lot of the assertions. Freedom is taken for granted and freedom is dang expensive too!

Summer Livin

Kevin gets his drivers license

OMG - Our 16 year old, Kevin, got his drivers license today! At this very moment on one of the 2 most dangerous driving days in the U.S. (July 3rd and 4th) he's out there driving MY car.

He's the kid in the pic to the right. Just a kid. Driving.

Hopefully he'll have an angel watching over him as he navigates these crazy roads of Northern Virginia. He's a good driver and has good instincts and his friends seem to be straight too so I think all will be well.

Next... Kevin gets a job.... :-)

Another midlifer...

Every so often I come across a post from someone else who is in the midst of midlife or just coming to the realization that they aren't getting any younger. This one is interesting.
You can click on the title of this post (Another midlifer) to read the post at:
http://topblogmag.blogspot.com/2007/06/huh.html

30 year reunion!!!

As much as it pains me to talk about it my 30 year high school reunion is coming this October. 30 years! I don't know what makes me feel older the 30 year reunion, my 23rd wedding anniversary (this past Saturday), or my 48th birthday a few weeks ago.

I try to pretend this aging thing doesn't bother me, but it just does sometimes. It's just the speed at which it all goes by that disturbs me. I mean they're talking about the 10 year anniversary of Princess Diana's death. 10 years like THAT!!

Can it be slowed down?