Noel, Missouri 64854
‘Growing Old’ are two wonderful or marvelous words. They
signify, express or allude to a very long life’s span, or an
abundance of time to accumulate and amass a vast storehouse of
information or knowledge that is so valuable for a person in their
reclining or retiring years.
‘Growing Old’ also are two bad, ugly or harsh words to
hear, say or perceive. They are a reminder that a person is made up
of two basic parts. Mentally, we are planners or designers.
Physically, we are builders or workers. Mentally we are on the
increase. Physically we are on the decrease. That gap between the
two widens from day to day, month to month, and year to year.
Having passed four score and two years, I now appreciate, more
than words can tell, the value or importance the several hobbies
are to me now. Every person who has had the fore-thought to prepare
himself with several hobbies during his younger years, is rich in
his senior or latter years.
My typewriter, even though it is old and antiquated, is my bosom
pal for writing articles for the Iron-Man Album and Engineers &
Engine Magazines and the letters to my rocking chair pen pals in
all parts of the world. Their replies and letters are most
gratefully received. My other hobbies are equally important to
me.
When I was in my fifties and sixties, in the prime of life, it
was my ambition and desire to know what it would be like to be a
centenarian. I am now in my eighties and have come to the
conclusion whatever is predestined will be most beneficial for
me.
Enumerating and cataloging many of the more interesting events
and happenings in a person’s early years, and binding them in a
book, makes pleasant reading later in life. Also tapes made at a
steam engine show, provide a person with the sounds of puffing
steam engines, the hum of lumber and shingle mills, feed grinders
and threshers in action, which are music to a person’s ears and
can be heard when a person is lonely, and wanting some kind of
entertainment to pass away some of the time on hand.
Having a bad heart condition, my doctor has forbidden me to
emcee any more shows, to stay away from crowds, to drive slow and
make short drives only. That is extremely hard to take. I will
appreciate letters from my rocking chair pen pals in near and far
away places. Your steam engine friend.
