In Praise of "Older" Guys

Larry Eckart

Well-known member
Guys,
I really enjoyed reading through your posts on my thread, "How Has Aging Affected How You Hunt?" I was surprised by the very serious and astute medical advice based on significant medical experiences. I was surprised just how much aging has indeed affected how we hunt and maybe even why we hunt. Did I not pick a hint of some sadness also by some guys that we can't physically do what we used to do while also others expressed the idea that because we are older, we enjoy it even more now because of our experience and less need to kill a limit or close to it.

As I read the posts, I noticed that many of us appear to be in the same age range of "older" although we are graced by some younger whippersnappers.

I am re-reading The Old Man and the Boy for about tenth time. The Old Man has something to say to all of us who are "older" in the story "November Was Always Best."

I quote as the Old Man explains to the Boy that older men are like the month of November:

"Look at me," he went on. "Here you see a monument to use. I'm too old to fall in love, but I ain't old enough to die. I'm too old to run, but I can out walk you because I know how to pace myself. I know when to work and when to rest. I know what to eat and what sits heavy on my stomach. I know there ain't no point in trying to drink all the licker in the world, because they'll keep making it. I know I'll never be rich, but I'll never be stone-poor neither, and there ain't much I can buy with money that I ain't already got.

"A man don't start to learn until he's forty; and when he hits fifty, he's learned all he's going to learn. After that he can sort of lay back and enjoy what he's learned, and maybe pass a little bit of it on. His appetites have thinned down and he's done most of his suffering, and yet he's still got plenty of time to pleasure himself before he peters out entirely. That's why I like November. November is a man past fifty who reckons he'll live to be seventy or so, which is old enough for anybody-which means he'll be make it through November and December, with a better-then-average chance of seeing New Year's.

"Do you see what I'm driving at?" End of quote.

One of the ironies about Robert Ruark, the author of this great book and great writing, is that he apparently forgot what he learned and what he wrote via the Old Man. Ruark died at age 49 of cirrhosis of the liver brought on by alcoholism. His last article appeared, not in an outdoors magazine but in Playboy, and was titled, "Nothing Works and Nobody Cares." Five years before his death he visited the Wilmington, NC area where he grew up (actually Southport, NC) which was not a good experience. He left the U.S. for good and spent his lasts years in London and in Spain. What a waste!!

Dude! You should have listened to The Old Man and stopped drinking!

Until God calls my time, I shall enjoy the outdoors, even though "home" never looks like it used to when we were young. I shall enjoy the outdoors sometimes with a few choice companions and frequently by myself. Until I die I shall enjoy the outdoors and the ability of God's creation to inspire, refresh, renew and educate me.

In praise of "older" guys!

Larry
 
Great post Larry. I've read Old Man and the Boy quite a few times myself including to my son. The book holds a special place in my heart, as my step dad who taught me so much about the outdoors and woodworking was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's about 10 years ago.

Brad
 
Many of the best writers and artists were deeply flawed individuals, teetering between brilliant and mentally ill. Pouring that much of yourself into your work takes a mighty toll.

I never tire of reading Ruark , Hemingway, or many of the other great writers. Their stories never get old.


In many ways this quote from Hunter S. Thompson rings true -

"I am the prototype, the perfect American. Half out of control, violent, drunk, high on drugs, carrying a .44 Magnum. Rather than being strange, I may be the embodiment of the national character... all the twisted notions that have made this country the beast it is."
Hunter S. Thompson
 
The Old Man and The Boy and also The Old Man's Boy Grows up are well worth the read.

Hard to believe that the guy who wrote them lived the life he did. Tremendous insights into life in both of those books.
 
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