Community Forums

Ted Lambert · 06-08-2015, 09:17 PM

The other day I was up on the roof of the coach cleaning off the debris.
I was not feeling too comfortable and was being extremely cautious.
When I was on the ground I felt very happy to be there. I am not afraid of heights as I have my own aircraft. I just find I don't have the confidence at 64 that I used to have.
Last night I was speaking to my cousin and he said he was a bit concerned that his 91 year old dad was standing at the top of a step ladder trimming a tree with a chain saw.
Is my generation getting soft?

Skip426 · 06-08-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narampa

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Is my generation getting soft?

No , having spent time being afraid of heights, although it takes a little more than the roof of my coach, there are individuals involved and individuals all respond differently. Did your cousin say why he wasn't the one on the ladder.

adamfolger · 06-08-2015, 11:46 PM

All men should know their limits...but I have never seen a ladder with an age limit on it.

SkiSmuggs · 06-09-2015, 06:40 AM

My brother says I don't seem to know the over 60 rule: men over 60 don't go up ladders. I told that to my roofer and he said that would put him out of work. At 70, I am not as comfortable on the roof as I used to be, but try to be more careful and aware now. I think it is less your age and more your physical condition that should be the criteria. As a skier, I still have a pretty good sense of balance.

Ted Lambert · 06-09-2015, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

No , having spent time being afraid of heights, although it takes a little more than the roof of my coach, there are individuals involved and individuals all respond differently. Did your cousin say why he wasn't the one on the ladder.

He arrived just as the job was finished. He went shopping and my uncle didn't go as he said he wasn't feeling good. So he decided to trim the tree.

They both live independently.

NITEHAWK · 06-09-2015, 07:02 AM

Reminds me about my Father.
He had his bladder out at 84 (cancer) and had a Stoma and a bag. The doctor's nurse called and wanted to talk to him. My mother said Dad was down behind the garage. The nurse asked: doing what? My Mother replied that Dad was cutting, splitting, and stacking his firewood for the winter as they heated the house with wood.

Mom then added: I told the doctor they should have operated on his head instead!

Bruce C · 06-09-2015, 07:27 AM

I took a ride on a ladder a few years ago, steeping onto it from the roof. When I woke up I was laying next to my step on the deck. At 71 I'm more cautious now, when I think back on it I was a lucky man. So heights are something I take serious now. Not being a young man that I thought I was. Ones mind never seems to age but the body sure does.

99-Am.Star · 06-09-2015, 05:21 PM

My dad was 87 when he had a heart attack, They replaced 1 halve and did 3 bypasses. About 6 months later he was out in the yard working on his stacked rock wall. He passed at 97 do to complications of Alzheimer's Disease. that was about 2 1/2 years ago. Had he not had Alzheimer's, I believe he would still be cutting fire wood with the chain saw right now. I am told I should slow down now at 70, but if I did death might catch me, and I have no intention of going yet....

BeachDude · 06-09-2015, 05:32 PM

My grandfather completely prepped and painted the eves and exterior of his 6,500 sq. ft. two story home for the last time when he was 89 years old. He lived to be 95!

He used to swim a few miles every now and then into his 70's with Jack LaLanne in the Pacific Ocean off of Santa Monica, just for fun!

Most people can easily twist a common paperclip until it breaks. He would show me a trick where he would take a penny nail and coax it into two. He later taught me the "trick", it was having VERY strong fingers, and practicing it for decades.