Dear o sung wu,

You mentioned thinking on the past, and that's quite a reasonable idea, as one of the key things we have going for us is the 'grey matter', and sharing our past experiences can help to keep us 'young'.
An old friend of mine (now 81), with whom I have shared a love of target rifle shooting for many years, has embarked on recording his 'memoirs' and on expressing his thoughts about global warming, farming and food security (as we are also cattle graziers, or past cattle graziers) and even on the possible long term prospects for humanity.
His 'musings' make for very interesting reading, and I look forward to receiving his emails; and we often have chats about global affairs when we meet at the local rifle club. It all makes for keeping life interesting, and keeping the blood flowing.

I'm sure your experiences and thoughts would also make interesting reading for your family and friends, and particularly for the grand-kids, just as your writings on this forum are always interesting and informative.
Any mobility limitations may hinder prospects for some 'new ventures' (like restoring a vintage vehicle, or building furniture for needy families at a Men's Shed), but, as long as you can keep the brain active, your recollections and your imagination can 'give you wings'.

More power to you, and keep up the good work.

o sung wu,
Documenting an oral history is a possibility. The right software helps when the fingers are not always cooperative. The National Library is interested.

It is a talking point too and can bring others into your life.

DVA and associations still run the visitors program?

Saltpetre,
Nick suggests a black powder interest?

Hi there - Much of what you've all said makes good sense, COSSOMBY, SALTPETRE and RAW MUSTARD all of you bring considerable experience of life issues, together with immense wisdom to 'the table', so to speak. My dear wife says, 'pull yourself together' and look at the brighter side...of course she's correct and I should pull myself together, I suppose ?

A piece written by the Welsh poet, Dylan THOMAS has always struck me as a rhyme or verse which kicks, dying, or the prospect of impending death, squarely in the face. The first verse goes thus...

'Do not go gentle into that good night',
'Old age should burn and rave at close of day',
'Rage, Rage against the dying of the light'...

There's another five or six verses to it ?

It's thought young Dylan THOMAS wrote this poem for his dying father, at the age of only sixteen years ? To me though, it evokes great resistance to the prospect of dying before your time ? Of course I'm probably quite wrong, still it's a poem that's been around for some years and it's been venerated and revered by many men within the veteran community. To me personally, I should at the very least...'Rage, Rage against the dying of the light'...?
But why ?

o sung wu,

"But why?"

Two words which speak volumes.

Here's something Ivan Illich wrote about our disconnected "modern" society, which might hold a clue to why you feel the need to ask that question.

"Traditional society was more like a set of concentric circles of meaningful structures, while modern man must learn how to find meaning in many structures to which he is only marginally related. In the village, language and architecture and work and religion and family customs were consistent with one one another, mutually explanatory and reinforcing. To grow into one implied a growth into others..."

So when you ask "why", it seems that life is devoid of meaning - and when life appears devoid of meaning, it appears empty...always a tragedy, for there is nothing more important to life than to perceive "meaning".

Hope you find your meaning, o sung wu.

Hi STEELEREDUX...

That's a side of you that I wasn't aware existed ? The proposition of 'trialling' or experimenting with some of these hallucinogenic substances in my advanced dotage, is something I've never actually considered ? '...and this too shall pass away...' The notion of manic happiness, as opposed to that of the deepest depression ? 'And this too shall pass away' ? STEELEREDUX I can see clearly why such a line can bring extraordinary solace or comfort ! Thank you very much indeed, for sharing this line of infinite wisdom.

Hi (again) RAW MUSTARD, SALTPETRE and ONTHEBEACH...

Your combined wisdom, further encourages me to look more carefully into much of what you've said; all three of you !

Your timely suggestion RAW MUSTARD, of giving this 'black mongrel' a decent kicking, has spurred me on with great vigour ! The thought of exacting such violence upon a mere canine is somewhat repulsive, nevertheless, it's either me or him ?

And SALTPETRE kindly suggests the smell of 'black powder' can clear one's mind ? You know, I've never actually shot a black powder programme. Friends of mine who have, reckon you'd never get 'em back to high velocity smokeless stuff ! Apparently, many of the European gunsmiths, construct some magnificent Black Powder weapons, both shoulder and hand guns. Very similar to that which has been used, a century and a half, ago ? An exciting shooting discipline for sure.

ONTHEBEACH has thoughtfully suggested, a process run by the National Library where one can transcribe your life history so others may have a deeper more substantial understanding of your life ? The only guarantees I can give there ONTHEBEACH, is my life story would have an amazing analgesic or narcotic effect, on all who had the misfortune of reading it, I should think ? A great idea, if my life was a little less banal, I should think. An interesting suggestion nevertheless, and I thank you very much indeed.

o sung wu,

That poet is not on about denying or opposing or fighting death or denying the Dark Reaper. He says enjoy life. Live. Wring everything out of life.

He would say drink you tea slowly and savour it. Look again at what is around you. Measure the works of Nature. See the sun rise and actually look. Hear again as though you never have before what those around you are saying. The sun rise is never far away.

We do what we can do and what we have done so far in life is enough for what has passed.

Anyhow, keep on truckin'. I have had a call and need to give a relative a hand. Funny to say that because he has a badly inflamed elbow. We men do tend to soldier on. Still, that should be what you do in your circumstance.