I offer you this - if you think you miss your Dad, and your life has worsened because of his loss - you have no idea of what it's like without your Mom and or your wife, if you think well of them that is. You will look back on your time with them with great loss if they precede you. Ask me how I know.....
You mentioned being on top of the world so to speak in your computer-related career. And you seem to be floundering career-wise/job-wise. Hopefully, money/income is not a problem for you, since that can only seem to make matters worse. And besides - poverty and being broke sucks. That said, I am thinking you are of sound mind, somewhere around 50 yrs. old. You need to consider that you can either learn to like/love your work, or you can loathe it. I suggest you learn to like your work, and the money it provides. Work gives you something to do with your time, and it keeps money rolling in -which isn't a bad thing. It is good for your mind, and it also gives others, perhaps your children if you have any - a good role model to go by. I happen to believe that God (my God anyway) likes it when I work - He likes people being productive with our time on earth. Most of us have to keep busy - or we don't eat. You just have to agree to keep busy is all to please yourself and every one around you. If you can or have something that pays well - say $20.00 an hour or up - learn to like it, is my best advice.
My private industry is way, way down as most are from what it used to be in the early 2000s too. I get by fine on 20% of what I used to bring in annually - however the amount used to be so large, almost 80% of it was discretionary to do with what I deemed with it. Now, to remain in my industry's precise sector, I have to really hustle to keep it going, or I'll lose what's left of it. I was fortunate my Dad told me when I was in my 20s that there would be a time in my life that I could not put money away, and to do so when I was earning the large/discretionary dollars. I have never wavered from following that advice 35 years later. And it has worked out well for me so far - since times have become lean these past few years.
That said, you do seem to be knowledgeable mechanically - that would be valuable to me were I that knowledgeable.
And lastly, if you don't like other's opinions, get used to it is my advice here - everyone is entitled to express their thoughts and feelings in this venue. Just let 'em have them is the key. Although the envious backbiting is atrocious at times from some individuals that want to tear you down, but that's basically their problem is how I see it.
I think there was some reactionary merit, though obscure in principle, with what you wrote about our President, FWIW. Even though the comment was out-of-bounds for this forum.
Glad to read your story - I know you miss your Dad. That's heartbreaking, I know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryBible
To all to whom it may concern,
I have been posting here for ten years. A lot can change in a persons life in ten years. In the late eighties and throughout the nineties I had a great job with a niche software company. I was making really good money, enjoyed my job and traveled all over North America and Western Europe. Unfortunately after the debacle of the Y2K scare in the software world, business in that niche and some other areas of the industry came to a screeching halt.
I had gotten in on the very ground floor in that industry in 1988 and rode it to the pennacle. It was a great ride up and a long, slow, agonizing trip back down. I hung on longer than almost anyone and when the industry was almost completely soaked up by big companies and made into a commodity to give away with more profitable products, I was too old to start the climb again in another industry.
I even went through a short stint as a Fork Truck mechanic, and then made it back into a related industry in a much lower level job. In the course of everything falling apart I even got my ASE Master thinking I might have to work on cars for a living.
Feburary of 2009 my Dad, a World War II Naval combat veteran who spent the last year of World War II as a member of the Secretary of the Navy staff in Washington, DC, started a decline in health that led him into a nursing home with severe health problems and Dimensia. He passed away just a few short months ago. My Mom is still living and requires some very difficult care that my wife and I try to provide.
I never knew that I was so dependent on the conversation and encouragement of my Dad. His loss has effected me very drastically.
I like to think that in my early days on MShop I offered lots of help to folks. I don't think there are very many people remaining here that were around at that time. I was on top of the world in my life and at such times it's easy to be helpful and respectful of others. When life is not so easy, that's when keeping your head up and helping others is a challenge. This has been a challenge that I very obviously have not met.
I am not an MB bigot. When I was driving 60 to 70K miles a year, MB's were the ideal car for that application. The subject of cars is one of the few in which I am very open minded, liking all kinds of cars of all types and makes. As a result I have freqented many Car Discussion Forums and NONE OF THEM compared to this site in it's formation years, and most of them can't compare to this site as it is today.
So with that preface I offer my apologies for going astray on this site. My life has changed for the worse, but there's no excuse for me taking it out on anyone here, even the challenging ones among you.
I offer my best wishes to all,
Larry
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