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3 Comments

  1. Sage Brush
    May 21, 2026 @ 9:36 am

    I have really enjoyed your posts on aging, Fred, especially this one.

    This ghost stage really hit me like a brick. My middle age kids can’t find time to see me even at Christmas. The broncs I rode in my youth have left me barely able to walk as far as my front porch.
    My last friend I knew for 60 years died. The woman I loved has been dead for 15 years. Even email friends are too busy to write.

    Years ago I roped a calf for my older neighbor to brand, and he went to grab the calf like he had done a thousand times before, and he couldn’t budge it. I will never forget his face when he looked up at me on my horse and said, “When did I get old?!”

    Once in the while I have a good day. I was at the store a while back and a middle age woman beamed a big smile at me. Not in any way of interest, but more in amusement at the cowboy attire from the 1960’s style that I still wear. Maybe I reminded her of a grandpa or something.
    It made my day. Anytime a woman smiles at me is a GOOD day.

    • Fred Lapides
      May 21, 2026 @ 2:36 pm

      I know a thing or two first hand about aging!

  2. Sage brush
    May 21, 2026 @ 7:45 pm

    Yep, you do, and you have taught us younger pups a thing or two. I learned a lot from grey dog cowboys when I was a kid. They have been around the block…on roller skates!

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