I Feel Old and Stuff...

Fat Freddy's cat died the other day I was so sad I phoned fat Freddy he was traumatised

A friend of mine who was well into his 60s at the time told me the brain turns to mush after you hit age 60.  A month later, he won the State Championship, beating three players each less than half his age, and two of whom were each 200+ points clear of his rating at the time.  I hadn't beaten him yet at the time (I have since, but he's still the stronger player), but even at that early stage I could see our games getting sharper, deeper, and generally more entertaining.  I could tell he was trying to bring up my level of play to the point where I was a real test for him - and that told me he wasn't really ready to give up on himself.

The only thing that holds you back from further improvement is complacency.  The game of chess is a lot more fun when you're working towards improvement - whether it's your own or your opponent's.  There's no reason to lament the passage of time - enjoy the time you've got, life is a lot more fun when you do!

My suggestion would be.

1. Be thankful at the stage you have achieved already.

2. Always try to get where you have always tried to get too.

3. Never give up, always keep trying.

4. If you want to get off the island, either swim or get someone to assist you off by helicopter or boat.

5. Another thing to consider it could have been worse.  

mk. ill consider the abv 5 points.

...for like 5 mins.

and opti knows me pretty good. he knows this is abt luv for and luv from.

so. i thought id get him a little s/t for the time he takes with me. here opti  ...and thx !

Start learning something new

here ya go....

People who accept themselves as they are aren't necessarily mentally healthy. There's no need to be stuck at almost any age.

...but they say dont chew it. itll make ur tung hard.

There are no words of comfort from my side, I'm afraid. I ain't old enough to understand what you're going through, but stay strong and be gentle with yourself. I hope things get better for you. God bless. 

TY sooo much Abe...and happy Diwali !

a/w's weird stuff wuz going thru my mind after my dearlys departed last nite. i wuz self-assessing as the white wine wuz working. it wuz like in vino veritas but no one else wuz in the balloon basket w/ me. know wut i  mean ? tho i am watching demitasse for the weekend. she helps. shes my couzins pom. she slept at my feet last nite.

Hm . . . I wish i could be old and stuck like you! . . .

I'm going to be 83 in exactly one month . . .

I'm my wife's care giver. Married 59 years & she will be 78 in December also . . .

The grass is always greener on some other field until you get there . . .

Have a good life . . .

Try joining a chess group . . .

thx Denver. yes ur right. i guess its relative isnt it ?...a/w we should go roller-skating s/t's ! we could glide to Ari G and chase the dots on the wall...wind in our hair...and i'll hold ur smooshy hand as I take u back to 1970...yee !!

...wanna go ??

Eee, 1970. Good year for me that. Learned to fly, among other things.

I started crying the other day in my car listening to chestnuts roasting. at the part 'for kids from 1 to 92'. my mom is 92.

but then abt 10 minutes later i started laffing like...burst ! i wuz singing 'chess knights posting on an open file...' lol !     

I thought it was chess nuts boasting in an open foyer? 

opti, i used that # cuz alotta men i ask say their 30's were the best yrs of their life. mine happened to be around late 20's. and put in 30-31 too.

sh*t dont surprize me a/m. maybe that has s/t to do w/it. wait....a old man crushing still drops hope  .

So sure, if there's something wrong, by all means, work on it. But if not...

Max, theres no working on f**king time ! we both know that. its ghostly, relentless, and a thieving bandit. the only good part abt it is itll get u thru a rough patch. but the sad part is it has a funny way of turning a hope into a memory.    

now what ? my only defence against it is attitude. wtf ??...how long can that go on ? see where ive gotten to ?

Best years? Can't think of any. I'm enjoying my life a lot. I'm not old yet .... can still run up hills, lift weights and do interesting stuff. Life is ok. Don't knock it. And so much better since I gave up all types of smoking.

e/o's handing out advice and hafta say im not really looking for mucha it. i just wanted to say how i felt. and i appreciate how ppl back-express or secondarily interpret it as a chess question too. im good either way  .

uknow, maybe s/o here can enlighten or take me s/w i havent thought...as i deal w/ feeling in the way & up to here in mud. i mean its all anonymous, right ?