Talk of guns, lies, being stuck, and following the adventures of the Great and Mighty Nobody

On the June 21, the Old Men of the Mountain met at the Your Way Café in Schoharie and the whole group of OMOTM eventually filtered in.

This sounds like it is bad thing but it is not because the way the OFs show up in dribs and dabs gives the kitchen help and the waitress time to serve all the old goats without too much pressure. It is a good thing the OFs do not have to wait on each other at these breakfasts or there would be so much bellyaching it would soon wind up in a food fight.

At one end of the table, the conversation was so topical that it was ahead of its time. The OFs were talking about the history of Remington Arms in Ilion, New York. Then in the Albany Times Union isn’t there an article about the history of Remington Arms. Remington Arms is America’s oldest factory that still makes its original product — guns — and in the same place.

This was brought up because of a brief discussion on guns and gun control, along with many American products being copied and reproduced by foreign competitors then sold at lower prices.

In the gun-control section, this scribe reflected that he would not be able to purchase a gun because of his name. This scribe cannot order a plane ticket online, nor can he send money to his kids by wire.  The name is a name commonly used by those on the terrorist watch list therefore, though this scribe has argued with many and has in some cases gone to the top person in charge of such rules, it is useless.  This scribe can’t do many ordinary things because of his (common) name.

Politician’s lie

This brought up politicians, not politics. Many OFs think politicians start off with a lie. They say, and this scribe thinks this has been brought up before, “the American People” want this or that, or this or that should be done. That is not true.

According to the OFs, this should be paraphrased with many, some, more, or a few. The American People is all inclusive and in most cases that is not possible.

Walls walks on

Some have asked if the son of the OF who is doing the walk has a blog, or is on Facebook. This scribe checked with the walker’s dad and yes he does.

The blog is “The great and mighty nobody” and he is on Facebook with his name, “Thomas Walls.” It might be fun to keep up with his adventures.

Bucket list

Another OF is leaving in a short while to go out West and complete his tour on our National Parks. His trip points out that, anyone who has a bucket list should make plans to get ’er done before he becomes too old to get ’er done.

Some of the OFs wished they had done some adventurous things years ago, but now the OFs have lost the ability to walk very far, and some have a different kind of list, such as a list of doctors’ appointments. With this list the OF finds it is hard to work any time in to go too far away from where the OF is planted now.

Greatest generation is caught in the middle

One OF mentioned that, when we were young, there was not much guidance in saving, and planning for trips or taking cruises, and retirement for that matter was rarely discussed. Another OF said it wasn’t necessary when we were young because the means of travel wasn’t there.

As for retirement, we were expected to take over the farm; that was our parents’ retirement. After we took over the farm, then we would take care of the parents. The next generation would do the same thing for us.

One OF added, then along came World War II and everything changed. The greatest generation is caught in the middle.

Stuck

The OFs talked about some of the big rigs they have seen not stuck, but hung up.

One group of OFs headed home after the breakfast when they came upon a tractor trailer completely across Cotton Hill. The truck was hung up on the crown of the road, drive wheels off the ground, trailer wheels off the ground, and there it was trapped in the middle of nowhere.

The rig was right on top of the hill just where the hill starts going down into West Berne. The OFs had to turn around and take Treadlemire Road, a dirt road for the most part that was not fit for man nor beast, let alone a car, into Gallupville.

It was the wife’s car to boot because the OF’s car was in the garage.

Hikers’ helpers

Some of the OFs are at it again.  This time they re-roofed a lean-to on a hiking trail. These lean-tos are patterned after the lean-tos that can be seen if you have been to the Adirondack exhibit at the State Museum in Albany, only this particular lean-to is larger.

The volunteer spirit is in most everybody and much of it goes unknown only to those who unselfishly give of their time, money, and talents.     

Those OFs who still haven’t figured out retirement but made it to the Your Way Café in Schoharie anyway were: Miner Stevens, Henry Witt, George Washburn, Bill Lichliter, Bill Bartholomew, Pete Whitbeck, John Rossmann, Harold Guest, Dave Williams, Bill Williams, Mark Traver, Glenn Patterson, Chuck Aelesio, Otis Lawyer, Don Wood, Art Frament, Herb Sawotka, Lou Schenck, Gerry Irwin, Mace Porter, Jim Rissacher, Bob Fink, Bob Benninger, Bob Lassome, Joe Loubier, Ted Willsey, Rich Donnelly, Duncan Bellinger, Elwood Vanderbilt, Jess Vadney, Harold Grippen, and me.