Has anyone felt this way of late?

[KD4LEI]

Ever since my grandfather died February a year ago, I have placed myself into a nostalgic "mood" of sorts.

Reading up on history. Looking at old pictures from his days when he was my age and younger.

It got me thinking that maybe it would be important to visit a veterans and/or retirement home sometime. I am even thinking about talking to some WWII vets sometime and getting to know more about stories from their experiences.

It's sort of scarey when you're finding yourself listening to some of the music from the days back when. Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole, Ray Charles and groups like the Platter's (Smoke Gets in Your Eye's). I don't immerse myself totally in the music all the time, but I will listen to some of this more than not.

Maybe it's just me, but I seem find myself preferring to hang with the older generations than those who are my age or younger.

I must be getting old... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[nx6d]

I bought my 95 year old grandmother (who was born in Beatrice, NE) a bunch of old 40's vintage movies that she could play on her computer.

She is the hit of the retirement home, or "asylum" as she calls it. She passes the movies around to the other "inmates" and they all get a big bang out of the movies. It was definitely worth the $150 and the time to drive to San Jose to visit and pass out the movies.

My good friend N6LDP's mother is in a rest home now. Those places are pretty grim. She's 85 and had a stroke, so she's partially paralyzed.

I used to be in Boy Scouts (yes, I was!) with Larry. His parents were both active in the organization so I've known his mother for a long time.

We went to visit her two weeks ago. I decided to buy a box of See's candy to give her. Best $15 bucks I ever spent. Larry told me later that the hug and the box of candy really perked her up big time.

You're on the right track, Chad.

Dave WX7B
Nostalgia, CA

[KW4MW]

A nice 20 minute phone call makes their day.

[ab8ma]

I agree with you Chad. I am (only) 55, but growing up I was always surrounded by friends of Dad. I was young, and they all were very interesting.

Now, with that in mind. Dad was alive the same time as Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). This Summer would have been Dad's 110'th birthday.

Many of Dad's friends were German, and that induced me to study that language in school. Didn't stick though.

Your own interest may lead you to investigating your own family's past. I just cannot recall now what ology that is.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kb2vxa]

Seasoned citizens? I prefer mine with salt, pepper and fresh garlic.

Seriously, I correspond with a couple of senior hams, one in Scotland and the other in Australia. The Scot has the typical sense of desert dry humor and loves to talk about his Army days in Africa. The Aussie lacks a sense of humor but makes up for it with his stories of being a policeman in Paupua and sends lots of pictures of historical interest. Being rail fans I send them pictures of trains from around the world, the e-mail conversations with both are peppered with politics and history explaining how things got the way they are today. It's like going to school only a lot more fun discussing rather than sitting in a classroom listening. Try this with just about any kid and you'll get a blank stare a moment before he walks away and plunks himself down with some video game.