Becoming grumpy has a lot to do with age and its limitations

The day was Jan. 28, 2020 and so far in our section of the planet we are squeaking by the month of January pretty easy. Three more days to go and it was February, and by the next gathering we will be past Groundhog Day which was Sunday, Feb. 2. This pampered rodent let us know if the rest of the winter will be like January.

So far this winter, the Farmer’s Almanac has been pretty much right on. The Old Men of the Mountain celebrated the weather conditions last Tuesday at the Your Way Café in Schoharie.

There was a very funny movie in 1993 called “Grumpy Old Men” starring Jack Lemon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret. Tuesday morning, the OFs discussed how they became grumpy old men.

The OFs declared that becoming grumpy has a lot to do with age, and not being able to do what they used to do. The OFs claim they have good reason to be grumpy.

One reason is, in conversation, a lot of names and facts don’t filter out from the brain to the mouth. In many cases, the OFs say they can see the person in their heads but can’t hook a name to a person — right away that is.

In most cases, the name will connect but the conversation that required that information is long gone. One OF said it doesn’t have to be a person; this memory problem can also be related to a place or thing.

This leads to grumpiness. A frustration that increases the grumpiness is when a whole circle of guys know who they are talking about and no one can come up with the name, place, or date.

Another problem arises when the OFs rely on Advil, Aleve, or Tylenol to start the day. This also adds to the grumpiness.

When it takes three or four minutes to exit a car or truck — this is not fun. The OFs declare that most can get down with effort (and in some cases even pain) but getting up is another story. An OF said getting down has to be well planned so there is something to grab hold of in order to get up.

So much of what used to be done without thinking now takes a lot of concentration just to get from point A to point B. So the OFs are entitled to be grumpy. On the other hand, the OMOTM are all in the same boat so they can have fun with their grumpiness.

Finding facts

The OFs spoke about the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others. The OFs think that it is going to take a day or so to sort it all out as to what really happened. They believe the press will be all over it with only half the information way too soon.

One OF thought this happens quite a lot and they have to correct it later on. Then another OF said, “Just like the weather people. In some cases, corrections and apologies are never made after 2 inches of snow becomes a foot, or vice-versa.”

Hair envy

Some of the OFs still have their hair, and some don’t. This has been mentioned before, but one OF has a thick head of shiny silver hair and is the envy of those who don’t and some of those who do.

The OFs wonder if some of these super genius-type doctors who are in medical research are working on how good genes can be cloned and then injected into those who have bad and even destructive genes.

The OFs thought this would be slick. However, this scribe thinks it would be quite a challenge. The gene-change process would have to be done in infancy so the hair experimentation would really be up in the air. (No pun intended.)

Not having any medical experience, but with so many trips to see doctors, this scribe feels he is ready for a medical degree.

Old Goats’ Grungy Gear

As has been mentioned before, we brought up the subject of the OFs who have “collections” of one sort or another. Many items have been accrued over the years, and we really are talking years here.

Now that many of the OFs are at the short end of the ruler, it is time to unload a lot of their possessions and the kids don’t want these items. (An old-fashioned 7-ton house jack comes to mind).

A few OFs have started giving articles away to other people; some have learned to use Ebay and are getting rid of things that way.

It is not clear if any of the OFs have tried garage sales or not. What may be a good idea is to have all the OFs gather up what they feel they will no longer need and put it in a pile.

We would need a catchy theme for this sale like: Old Goats’ Grungy Gear. Then the OFs could rent space in some parking lot and hold one huge garage sale.

That would be some sale! Each OF could have their own space, or the objects could be marked by different colored tags for each OG, or we might have one huge collection with just a group of OFs running the show in case not all OFs had the time or the energy to be there.

Imagine what a garage sale that would be! It definitely would not be junk.

The problem would be the same as what all garage sales have. Not everything sells. Then there is all the work to bring the stuff back home and the OFs would still have a collection of stuff they don’t want.

But it is an idea. And there is a chance that the OFs would not gain much because each OF would see something another OF had, and the OF would purchase that. After all, what are friends for?

Now that the Old Men of the Mountain had downsized not one iota, they all decided to go to the Your Way Café in Schoharie for breakfast, and they were: Miner Stevens, Roger Chapman, Robie Osterman, George Washburn, Wally Guest, Harold Guest, John Rossmann, Roger Shafer, Chuck Aelesio, Richard Frank, Bill Lichliter, Rick LaGrange, Otis Lawyer, Jim Heiser,  Mark Traver, Joe Rack, Glenn Patterson, Ken Parks, Jake Herzog, Lou Schenck, Jack Norray, Mace Porter, (who was 91 on Tuesday and we all sang “Happy Birthday”), Herb Bahrmann, Gerry Irwin, Ted Feurer, Jake Lederman, Wayne Gaul, Marty Herzog, Paul Whitbeck, Warren Willsey, Mike Willsey, and me.