THE NOT SO DISTANT "GOOD OLE DAYS"

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

I feel like rambling this afternoon so here we go. Just came back from a short trip , out of need for some rest etc. Cut the grass , washed and waxed the truck, cleaned out the boat , and some other odds and ends. Actually all ready to go on the next trip but probably not till fall I hope and maybe all the way to Sir Jeffrey's , that would be a dream trip for me...
While on the way home Doug (PA #1), AND I were talking about past trips etc. HIs brother in law passed away in the last two weeks and Doug needed to get away so we went . WHile talking about past trips he mentioned a camping trip he and I went on to Southern Illinois some years past and how hard it rained every night while we were in the tent. This was at least 18 years ago and we have been fishing together for 25 years now. TIme flies folks when ya aren't counting or watching.
He also mentioned about our recent troubles both physical and other wise. He said maybe we should sell the boats and start just fishing from shore and see were it leads us. NOt a bad idea I guess. My issues are mostly back related and his are everything else from arthritis to joint problems etc. We both have trouble in the boats , him more than me , but then he is 5 years older than me and I"m ancient !!!!!!!!!! Least ways I feel ancient. There was a day when he and I could clean 100-150 nice gills in about and hour and a quarter. NOt any more and we have all we want to do to get 25 done now with out sitting down and taking a load off if ya know what I mean. We'd go out in the morning 10am or so and pound the beds till say 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Stop by the Dairy Queen and get the usual shake or malt and head for the motel. Sit around a while shooting the breeze and then get at the fish cleaning stuff.
NOw the fish cleaning is a chore, to be sure and not looked forward to anymore. Times change I guess and it all goes with the terrritory of being a senior. There is no solution and we both wish we had as many years and gills ahead of us as are behind us , but that just aint going to happen folks. Oh well that's life and I guess we have to make adjustments from time to time. Sure wish I could wake up in the morning with out having to plan how to get out of bed and have my back not hurting. I know there are lots of folks on here with problems that make Doug's and mine seem trivial , but just thought I'd let all you guys know you are not alone in your aches and pains.
After the fish cleaning was done then we'd get cleaned up and head for the DQ or Kentucky Fried or anywere else we could find open and have supper. Then back to the motel and rest up for the same thing for 6 more days at a time.......... OH MY THOSE WERE THE DAYS , WE HAD A BALL ................
COME TO THINK OF IT if I had to do all over again I'd do it the same way we did it for the last 25 years.... except take better care of my self if I had thought I'd live this long . Doug said his days of fishing like this are numbered and I knew exactly what he meant cause they are for me too. Wish I had something earth shattering to pass along to everyone but don't have the answers to many questions about fishing but wished I did. Do have a couple things to pass along on life though , LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT'S YOUR LAST and Live it well , don't want to end it on a bad note. Do everything you've ever wanted to do cause there is no time better than right now. Make friends not enemy's . Lastly relish friendships and family..........

[carl hendrix]

how you live your life is the way you will be remembered!!!   live a long life buddy!!

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

Thanks Carl and I've always believed that when you are gone , if just ONE person truly misses you and you have made a positive difference in one persons life then nothing more can be asked of life. MONEY , THINGS, PROPERTY OR STATUS are of no value in the grand scheme of things buddy," ALL GLORY IS FLEETING "........

[Leo Nguyen]

Send Doug my condolences for his brother-in-laws.

Up to 150 fish in about an hour. Good grief man, it took me over 3 freaking hours to clean about that many fishes. I'm no filleting expert, but will be there soon.

Indeed, live each day to its fullest. There's no reason not to live your days more fully as you get older. When you are young, having a family, your life is pretty much swamp to the very core. However, once life free you up from all the burdens, time to make the last stretch of your life as rewarding as it can be. However, be sure to also get some good level of physical exercises to prevent the body from ceasing up. So..more fishing!

[Bob Garner]

I keep saying I should slow down and enjoy life more and I am trying , we bought the camper on the lake last year along with a bigger boat  to enjoy life more , I met a new fishing buddy about a year ago and he loves to fish and his wife really likes it when he goes . we haven't been out alot yet but we are gaining . I did turn him on to ice fishing once last winter and he had a blast . The grandkids love to fish so I have alot of reasons to get out now , so I will be having alot more fun and getting out

[Rick King]

All  right Tooty - do me a favor and post your "BUCKET LIST". Make it a good one........... and share with everyone and I will do the same.......I'm quite sure your not as bad as you make it sound and besides that (your still above ground)

 

Semper Fi

my age 68

[Leo Nguyen]

Hm..his bucket list: the bucket.