Apparently Around the 20 Year Mark We Start Dropping .....

[scarygirl]

I don't know how many of you are age 40 or past or at the 20 years past H.S. mark, but does it ever seem odd to you that it has really been 20 years since H.S? That you we are now the GROWN-UPS? That we are now our parents? Our parents generation is dying off for sure, but slowly but surely WE ARE NEXT... I guess it just really hit home for me because this girl I went to middle and H.S. with just dropped dead of of a heart attack. I haven't seen her since H.S. so we weren't in touch or anything. We spent some time together back then being in chorus together. It is just my memory is so vivid of those days. Time seemed to go on forever back then. I am just having a hard time grasping that all of us got OLD, that the past is done. In a strange way, for me H.S. was kind of like a movie. I thought I'd flip it on and they would all still be there.

I guess the real truth is, they all changed, but I didn't. Maybe I would feel older if I had kids,

[scarygirl]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

[slucero]

you just remembered her.. that's paying respect.

[G.I.Jim]

you just remembered her.. that's paying respect.

Where's the "Like" button? Couldn't be said any better.

[steveo777]

you just remembered her.. that's paying respect.

Where's the "Like" button? Couldn't be said any better.

I've gone to funerals for people I haven't seen in many years and just lurked in the back and prayed, then left, never mingling with anyone.

[Don]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

And being dead, she won't care anyway. What's the point if you haven't seen her in 20 years? Would you be doing it for her or for yourself? If there was no connection between the two of you for two decades, going to her funeral isn't going to change anything. If it was someone you were extremely close to and had a falling out with, I guess you could go as a way to sooth some type of guilt complex but seriously if any other school acquaintances die, are you going to go to their funerals too? That would only be fair, right?
150,000 people die every day. Give this particular one 30 seconds of silence if you want and move on.

[scarygirl]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

And being dead, she won't care anyway. What's the point if you haven't seen her in 20 years? Would you be doing it for her or for yourself? If there was no connection between the two of you for two decades, going to her funeral isn't going to change anything. If it was someone you were extremely close to and had a falling out with, I guess you could go as a way to sooth some type of guilt complex but seriously if any other school acquaintances die, are you going to go to their funerals too? That would only be fair, right?
150,000 people die every day. Give this particular one 30 seconds of silence if you want and move on.

You're right. I just find it sad is all.

[No Surprize]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

And being dead, she won't care anyway. What's the point if you haven't seen her in 20 years? Would you be doing it for her or for yourself? If there was no connection between the two of you for two decades, going to her funeral isn't going to change anything. If it was someone you were extremely close to and had a falling out with, I guess you could go as a way to sooth some type of guilt complex but seriously if any other school acquaintances die, are you going to go to their funerals too? That would only be fair, right?
150,000 people die every day. Give this particular one 30 seconds of silence if you want and move on.

You're right. I just find it sad is all.

And it is (sad). But Don is right. When you think of them and remember them for who they were, your paying respect and acknowledging what they

meant to you and your life. It's bittersweet sometimes looking back (at least for me) and wondering why it had to happen (dying young). I truly

believe that your genes (barring you don't smoke 3 packs a day or drink like a fish), play a huge role in how long you live. My parents are both

still alive, one at 80, the other at 79. I miss a lot of people I know and I think of them often. By doing that, your keeping them alive in your heart.

[Don]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

And being dead, she won't care anyway. What's the point if you haven't seen her in 20 years? Would you be doing it for her or for yourself? If there was no connection between the two of you for two decades, going to her funeral isn't going to change anything. If it was someone you were extremely close to and had a falling out with, I guess you could go as a way to sooth some type of guilt complex but seriously if any other school acquaintances die, are you going to go to their funerals too? That would only be fair, right?
150,000 people die every day. Give this particular one 30 seconds of silence if you want and move on.

You're right. I just find it sad is all.

And it is (sad). But Don is right. When you think of them and remember them for who they were, your paying respect and acknowledging what they

meant to you and your life. It's bittersweet sometimes looking back (at least for me) and wondering why it had to happen (dying young). I truly

believe that your genes (barring you don't smoke 3 packs a day or drink like a fish), play a huge role in how long you live. My parents are both

still alive, one at 80, the other at 79. I miss a lot of people I know and I think of them often. By doing that, your keeping them alive in your heart.

Genes more than anything give you a good idea on how long you'll live, barring accidents or super unhealthy lifestyle choices. Some people can even get away with that, smoking two packs a day, drinking every night, eating bacon seven times a week, All in the genes. Like you said, look at your family and their average life span and you can pretty much hang your hat on that.

[scarygirl]

Part of me wants to go to the funeral to pay my respects, but part of me thinks it would be odd since I hadn't seen her in 20 years.

And being dead, she won't care anyway. What's the point if you haven't seen her in 20 years? Would you be doing it for her or for yourself? If there was no connection between the two of you for two decades, going to her funeral isn't going to change anything. If it was someone you were extremely close to and had a falling out with, I guess you could go as a way to sooth some type of guilt complex but seriously if any other school acquaintances die, are you going to go to their funerals too? That would only be fair, right?
150,000 people die every day. Give this particular one 30 seconds of silence if you want and move on.

You're right. I just find it sad is all.

And it is (sad). But Don is right. When you think of them and remember them for who they were, your paying respect and acknowledging what they

meant to you and your life. It's bittersweet sometimes looking back (at least for me) and wondering why it had to happen (dying young). I truly

believe that your genes (barring you don't smoke 3 packs a day or drink like a fish), play a huge role in how long you live. My parents are both

still alive, one at 80, the other at 79. I miss a lot of people I know and I think of them often. By doing that, your keeping them alive in your heart.

She was a smoker, had been trying to quit; that and other health problems probably contributed to an early demise. Makes it sadder still. So unnecessary. Then again, what do I knoW? I could be hit by a METEOR.

[Andrew]

Was at a funeral for a school mate last week. Cancer. My age. Too depressing.

[majik]

Music heals just listen. Hope it helps.

She's a mystery - Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA1rXubvDkI

[scarygirl]

Music heals just listen. Hope it helps.

She's a mystery - Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA1rXubvDkI

Thank. I feel better today. But ask me again in May when I officially turn 40.

[steveo777]

Music heals just listen. Hope it helps.

She's a mystery - Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA1rXubvDkI

Thank. I feel better today. But ask me again in May when I officially turn 40.

I got scared at 20, 40 and 50 and am now heading toward 60. The biggest rippoff of our spirit comes from those times when we pause on thoughts of our own mortality. Don't do it and if you think about it, only give it 30 secs. max, then realize there is so much more to give and lots of livin' to do. Suddenly such thoughts become a total waste of time. The gift we are given only comes around once in a lifetime. Maximize it! If you live another 20 years, just think of how many times you could tell someone around here to either fuck off, go taste your own blood, shit fire or go drink your own cum!

[majik]

Music heals just listen. Hope it helps.

She's a mystery - Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA1rXubvDkI

Thank. I feel better today. But ask me again in May when I officially turn 40.

Remember you are the mystery too.

[Andrew]

I started falling apart at 38. No sign of any let up yet.

[scarygirl]

I started falling apart at 38. No sign of any let up yet.

Awe!! I and my three cats give you a BIG HUG!

[mikemarrs]

I started falling apart at 38. No sign of any let up yet.

I'll be 38 in two weeks on the 8th of March.

I'm hoping this isn't the age i start falling apart too

[JRNYMAN]

I don't know how many of you are age 40 or past or at the 20 years past H.S. mark, but does it ever seem odd to you that it has really been 20 years since H.S? That you we are now the GROWN-UPS? That we are now our parents? It is just my memory is so vivid of those days. Time seemed to go on forever back then.

I graduated in '81 and even though the math proves it's been 32 years, I still can't get my head around it. Part of me just flat out refuses to accept that that much time has past which equates that 32 years of my life have passed and I don't feel I got my money's worth. The other part of me has a hard time grasping the reality of it simply because, like you mentioned, I still remember those days vividly as if they could have happened recently. Time did seem to go by much more slowly back then. Memories of even trivial, normal everyday happenings are vivid and bright and those non-events appear in my memory to have taken much longer to "happen" when compared to even the biggest events in my life thus far.
I find myself getting nostalgic more often lately and think about those days fondly. Isn't it strange how we look back on those days and remember that time as being so much simpler and how important and dear we still hold them yet to hear our parents, church leaders and government officials tell it, we were all going to Hell and all of them were scared for the future of our country when they thought about the fact that WE were going to be running it one day.

I am just having a hard time grasping that all of us got OLD, that the past is done. In a strange way, for me H.S. was kind of like a movie. I thought I'd flip it on and they would all still be there.

And you just hit home with me on that part of your post. When I look at the pictures of former classmates or when I would see them at the reunions I actually attended, I saw people way older than I thought they should look. And now, after 30+ years, those people look exactly like the people of my parents' generation did when I was a kid. When I think about various events or times I spent with those people, the way we looked at the time is frozen in our memories never allowing anyone to age or change. The weird part is that when I look at myself in the mirror, with the exception of a few pounds...... Ok, let's be honest.... 50 lbs., I still think I look pretty much the same as I did back then but I know I've aged just as much as those people I find so old looking. It's weird and difficult to properly explain so I'll move on.

I guess the real truth is, they all changed, but I didn't.

Sums up how I feel precisely! One thing that keeps those awesome years alive and important inside us is the music fromthat generation. From OUR generation. Man what a special and amazing time it was musically! I often wonder if when our kids step into the places in life we currently occupy, what will they have to hang onto from their high school years. It certainly isn't the music or the "musicians"! We're still listening to and enjoying the music that we did 20, 25, 30 years ago and still loving it just as much. Today's kids don't listen to music that's a month old. Every song that comes out it seems is just a place holder for the one that will replace it within a week or so and then its thrown onto the heap with all the other unimportant, uninspiring, talentless garbage that has gone before it. The music of our generation plays such a vital and key role in our memories and the events that occurred in our lives. I can't imagine how differently those images would be if music wasn't a part of them.

[AR]

Pushing 45 myself. Just a number. It's weird to think about so I don't - like steveo777 said.

[majik]

The way I see it, memories are thoughts, thought is mind and mind is time, past and future story telling, its a small portion of our experience. Now.... is where the juice is, all the action happens here and that also includes memory which is thought coming and going.
Now is ever fresh, ever new, always exciting and definitely non repeating. Am i the story or am i that in which stories appear then disappear. 40 is a number to which is added a story ( for some its a scary story) thats all thats happening and there is so much more happening just notice it or go to another portion of experience thats not mind.
Reality is the only place where i can eat a good meal.

[JRNYMAN]

The way I see it, memories are thoughts, thought is mind and mind is time, past and future story telling, its a small portion of our experience. Now.... is where the juice is, all the action happens here and that also includes memory which is thought coming and going.
Now is ever fresh, ever new, always exciting and definitely non repeating. Am i the story or am i that in which stories appear then disappear. 40 is a number to which is added a story ( for some its a scary story) thats all thats happening and there is so much more happening just notice it or go to another portion of experience thats not mind.
Reality is the only place where i can eat a good meal.

Did you used to write for Pink Floyd? You did, didn't you?! I knew I recognized that whole existentialism garbledy-goop!! Seriously though, that was surprisingly well put. Either that or I'm just as altered as you are for understanding it!

[Don]

The way I see it, memories are thoughts, thought is mind and mind is time, past and future story telling, its a small portion of our experience. Now.... is where the juice is, all the action happens here and that also includes memory which is thought coming and going.
Now is ever fresh, ever new, always exciting and definitely non repeating. Am i the story or am i that in which stories appear then disappear. 40 is a number to which is added a story ( for some its a scary story) thats all thats happening and there is so much more happening just notice it or go to another portion of experience thats not mind.
Reality is the only place where i can eat a good meal.

And this is why Alzheimer's is so devastating. You never really find that good meal again or if you have found it you can't remember eating it.

[scarygirl]

I don't know how many of you are age 40 or past or at the 20 years past H.S. mark, but does it ever seem odd to you that it has really been 20 years since H.S? That you we are now the GROWN-UPS? That we are now our parents? It is just my memory is so vivid of those days. Time seemed to go on forever back then.

I graduated in '81 and even though the math proves it's been 32 years, I still can't get my head around it. Part of me just flat out refuses to accept that that much time has past which equates that 32 years of my life have passed and I don't feel I got my money's worth. The other part of me has a hard time grasping the reality of it simply because, like you mentioned, I still remember those days vividly as if they could have happened recently. Time did seem to go by much more slowly back then. Memories of even trivial, normal everyday happenings are vivid and bright and those non-events appear in my memory to have taken much longer to "happen" when compared to even the biggest events in my life thus far.
I find myself getting nostalgic more often lately and think about those days fondly. Isn't it strange how we look back on those days and remember that time as being so much simpler and how important and dear we still hold them yet to hear our parents, church leaders and government officials tell it, we were all going to Hell and all of them were scared for the future of our country when they thought about the fact that WE were going to be running it one day.

I am just having a hard time grasping that all of us got OLD, that the past is done. In a strange way, for me H.S. was kind of like a movie. I thought I'd flip it on and they would all still be there.

And you just hit home with me on that part of your post. When I look at the pictures of former classmates or when I would see them at the reunions I actually attended, I saw people way older than I thought they should look. And now, after 30+ years, those people look exactly like the people of my parents' generation did when I was a kid. When I think about various events or times I spent with those people, the way we looked at the time is frozen in our memories never allowing anyone to age or change. The weird part is that when I look at myself in the mirror, with the exception of a few pounds...... Ok, let's be honest.... 50 lbs., I still think I look pretty much the same as I did back then but I know I've aged just as much as those people I find so old looking. It's weird and difficult to properly explain so I'll move on.

I guess the real truth is, they all changed, but I didn't.

Sums up how I feel precisely! One thing that keeps those awesome years alive and important inside us is the music fromthat generation. From OUR generation. Man what a special and amazing time it was musically! I often wonder if when our kids step into the places in life we currently occupy, what will they have to hang onto from their high school years. It certainly isn't the music or the "musicians"! We're still listening to and enjoying the music that we did 20, 25, 30 years ago and still loving it just as much. Today's kids don't listen to music that's a month old. Every song that comes out it seems is just a place holder for the one that will replace it within a week or so and then its thrown onto the heap with all the other unimportant, uninspiring, talentless garbage that has gone before it. The music of our generation plays such a vital and key role in our memories and the events that occurred in our lives. I can't imagine how differently those images would be if music wasn't a part of them.

It feels good to know someone else gets me.

[majik]

The way I see it, memories are thoughts, thought is mind and mind is time, past and future story telling, its a small portion of our experience. Now.... is where the juice is, all the action happens here and that also includes memory which is thought coming and going.
Now is ever fresh, ever new, always exciting and definitely non repeating. Am i the story or am i that in which stories appear then disappear. 40 is a number to which is added a story ( for some its a scary story) thats all thats happening and there is so much more happening just notice it or go to another portion of experience thats not mind.
Reality is the only place where i can eat a good meal.

And this is why Alzheimer's is so devastating. Fear of the future, its only a thought!

You never really find that good meal again. Reality is non repeating ever new and fresh.

or if you have found it you can't remember eating it. Who wants to remember eating regurgitated food when there is a banquet here and now.

Fixed!!