The good times are really over for good....

[smackaholic]

...for Merle.

RIP to one of country musics badasses.

Oh, and happy birfday, BTW. Checked out on his b-day.

[Diego in Seattle]

Checked out on his b-day.

He had previously said that he didn't want to celebrate his birthday. I guess he was serious.

[smackaholic]

I'm guessing that being reminded that the clock is running out isn't much of a celebration as you near 80. Of course some may take the opposite view point of 'holy shit, I'm still upright and taking nourishment, rack me!!!'

Based on my own experiences with relatives that lived well into their 90s, I think dying suddenly at about 84 is the best you can hope for. At that age I was still getting out on the golf course with my gramps, now and then. Both my paternal grandparents got into their mid-90s, but, especially with grandma, it wasn't no party the last 10 years. She was pretty much full on senile by about 88. Gramps had every last marble til the end but his vision and a few other things were gone by the time he was 88 or 89. As his days neared the end he was just fine with it as he said he was tired of being blind and broken down.

[BSmack]

[R-Jack]

I'm guessing that being reminded that the clock is running out isn't much of a celebration as you near 80. Of course some may take the opposite view point of 'holy shit, I'm still upright and taking nourishment, rack me!!!'

80? Fuck that. I didn't even want to celebrate 41. I got a pass this year with my wife's grandmother checking out. She hit room temp on the actual date, so my fingers are crossed that wifey will focus on her memory instead of forcing a celebration on my day.

[BSmack]

I'm guessing that being reminded that the clock is running out isn't much of a celebration as you near 80. Of course some may take the opposite view point of 'holy shit, I'm still upright and taking nourishment, rack me!!!'

Based on my own experiences with relatives that lived well into their 90s, I think dying suddenly at about 84 is the best you can hope for. At that age I was still getting out on the golf course with my gramps, now and then. Both my paternal grandparents got into their mid-90s, but, especially with grandma, it wasn't no party the last 10 years. She was pretty much full on senile by about 88. Gramps had every last marble til the end but his vision and a few other things were gone by the time he was 88 or 89. As his days neared the end he was just fine with it as he said he was tired of being blind and broken down.

Nope, little old lady next door to me made it to 95 before she started to slow down. As usualm, he slide was precipitated by a fall. Now she's in a home trying to rehab again at 98.

[Goober McTuber]

Based on my own experiences with relatives that lived well into their 90s, I think dying suddenly at about 84 is the best you can hope for. At that age I was still getting out on the golf course with my gramps, now and then.

You were playing golf with gramps when you were 84? How old are you now?

[War Wagon]

I drove thru Muskogee on the way home from Austin over Thanksgiving just a few months ago. Couldn't help but think about Merle.

[smackaholic]

Who wouldn't want to get drunk with this pair?

[smackaholic]

Based on my own experiences with relatives that lived well into their 90s, I think dying suddenly at about 84 is the best you can hope for. At that age I was still getting out on the golf course with my gramps, now and then.

You were playing golf with gramps when you were 84? How old are you now?

I could have been 84 in '82 and I'd still be younger than you!

[smackaholic]

He really should have had Willie come out and sing the first verse.

No fukkin' way he could do it with a straight face.

[Goober McTuber]

Based on my own experiences with relatives that lived well into their 90s, I think dying suddenly at about 84 is the best you can hope for. At that age I was still getting out on the golf course with my gramps, now and then.

You were playing golf with gramps when you were 84? How old are you now?

I could have been 84 in '82 and I'd still be younger than you!

But you'd still be fatter. And uglier.

[smackaholic]

Fatter, maybe.