Never Too Old To Play...
By kelly60
@kelly60 (4547)
United States
July 12, 2007 2:42pm CST
My dad is in his 70s and proves that you are never too old to play. After his retirement, he found himself with a lot of free time and needed something constructive to do with it. The picture here is of the train that he built. He loves to play engineer, and take all of the kids for rides. This picture was taken at our family reunion with some of the kids loaded up and taking a ride on his train. He has also taken the train to the fair, and driven it in the Fourth of July parade. The kids love the train rides, but the truth is, I think that he loves it even more than they do.
4 people like this
9 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
10 Aug 07
What a great idea. Your Dad does wonderful work. He should sell these. I am sure there would be a market for it.
1 person likes this
@wayz12 (2059)
• United States
12 Jul 07
I heard this line once from an old Star Trek episode and it struck me as quite profound. "The more complex the mind, the more it needs the simplicity of play." I believe as human beings, we need to learn how to relax and enjoy ourselves in activities that challenges our creativity.
Your father's need to build that train is a visible manifestation of this urge. In his own way, he is keeping his mind fit by indulging in an activity that he enjoys and at the same time makes him feel productive. It is best to encourage him to pursue more activities like this to help slow down the aging process, and help him keep his mental faculties agile.
1 person likes this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
12 Jul 07
My dad has always been active, both physically and mentally. I don't remember a time when he ever sat still for any length of time. Even when he retired, it lasted for less than a week before he decided to go back to work because he hated not working.
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
13 Jul 07
When he takes the kids for a ride around the park he gets kids from all over the park begging for rides. Of course he has to make lots of stops to get permission from parents before allowing the extra passengers to climb aboard. I think that selling them would take the fun out of it for him though.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
23 Oct 07
Wow, that is a great train built by your father, who is so capable of making things like that. I am sure that he must have a lot of fun with his own train with some of the kids in it. You are right that it is never too old to play.
1 person likes this
@Sushicook (690)
• Sweden
12 Jul 07
That is a very inspiring thing! I'm glad your dad has kept the child within him! My grandmother is in her late 70's, and until a couple of years ago she didn't do much with her days. Then I introduced her to the local theatre group, and her old passion for theater blossomed again. She seems ten years younger now a days!
Play is definitly the secret to keeping yourself feeling young and healthy.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
2 Dec 07
That is so cool! My father is in his 70's also. He loves to take the grandkids and great grandkids on hikes. He is still very active. He plays horseshoes also. I dont think we ever get too old to play. I loved the photo
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
29 Dec 07
My husband took early retirement and he listens to the Old Time Radio programs that he records, watches Tv, and is working on the basement. So far he only has the stairs done. He worked for CN (Canadian National Railways) as a boilermaker and welder, so I guess he wants to get out of the train business, so now I have to listen to the radio programs that he has on his car. We did take a couple of trips, one a cruise. So as soon as we pay for these, we will be planning another cruise. But I sure wish he would get another hobby beside listening to radio plays. He has them on when I am writing and I cannot concentrate.
@LauraElrod (418)
• United States
20 Jan 08
my dad is to 70 and he loves to still play, he still bails hay and tinkers around with younger boys on the farm and i think it keeps him young. i hope when i am 70 i want to go like him i am 45 and want to rest .
