He said he learned he was “old” the hard way.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (97418)
United States
April 23, 2025 7:33am CST
I don’t count 70 as old, but I do say that is an age to “know better”. My dad will be 70 in June, and yesterday while we were in the Tulsa area (2 and a half hours away) to get medicine not found in my area, my dad also needed to get a car in a dolly for a friend to take to our town to sell. It wouldn’t start, and it couldn’t be jumped so he decided he and my sister (they wouldn’t let me help due to my back surgeries; never mind his neck and knee surgeries) would push the (small) car up on the dolly. He heard something pop, was in tremendous pain, and we quickly knew we had to toss this plan, go home, and get some care for him. My sister offered to drive us home, but he wanted to do it since there was a dolly attached to his truck and that’s harder to manage. I told him I’d try, but we both knew that wouldn’t end well.
About half way home he graduated from gasping in pain to saying “woo doggies” -reverting back to his country roots. I had him in stitches laughing, and by the time we got home he was in better spirits. Now, when we got home he couldn’t get out of the truck without the help of two people, but hey, his humor was back!
On the way home he ruefully told me he has come to the conclusion he’s too old for this stuff. I cannot believe he tried that with his prior neck issues.
The verdict? ER said torn calf muscle which requires rest, ice, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. I hope he takes the pain medicine. He hates to touch the stuff. He rarely even takes OTC medicine.
Have you found you were too old for something? I discovered earlier this year I am too old to get in a very tall van without a hand of assistance. Pitiful.
On the way home he ruefully told me he has come to the conclusion he’s too old for this stuff. I cannot believe he tried that with his prior neck issues.
The verdict? ER said torn calf muscle which requires rest, ice, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. I hope he takes the pain medicine. He hates to touch the stuff. He rarely even takes OTC medicine.
Have you found you were too old for something? I discovered earlier this year I am too old to get in a very tall van without a hand of assistance. Pitiful.19 people like this
17 responses
@BarBaraPrz (49367)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Apr
I'm too old to bend over backwards.
5 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (84383)
• United States
23 Apr
I'm too old to bend over forward or backwards 
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (146148)
• United States
23 Apr
I hope you dad feels better quickly and doesn't hurt as much as your post makes it sound.
Uhm... you do realize that "country folk" don't normally say "woo doggies", right? That came from the television show The Beverly Hillbillies... Dad laughed every time Jed Clampett said that on the show and then dad started repeating it. (I think the actual phrase was "well doggies" but that's close enough, in my opinion. )
I've been having trouble getting in and out of various vehicles lately and Pretty has been helping me. I can usually get in okay as long as I don't have a high step up into the vehicle but getting back out, I need to hold onto someone or something to brace me when I get out. I don't have a problem getting in or out of our Buick LeSabre but any car smaller than that and I struggle. (We've gotten rides in various medical taxis lately and they're all smaller vehicles, I assume so they use less gas, but don't know that for sure.)
I can't wait for our car to come back from being repaired at the local garage.
(I think the actual phrase was "well doggies" but that's close enough, in my opinion. )
I've been having trouble getting in and out of various vehicles lately and Pretty has been helping me. I can usually get in okay as long as I don't have a high step up into the vehicle but getting back out, I need to hold onto someone or something to brace me when I get out. I don't have a problem getting in or out of our Buick LeSabre but any car smaller than that and I struggle. (We've gotten rides in various medical taxis lately and they're all smaller vehicles, I assume so they use less gas, but don't know that for sure.)
I can't wait for our car to come back from being repaired at the local garage.4 people like this
@AmbiePam (97418)
• United States
23 Apr
Hey, the Beverly Hillbillies are the original country folk! 
But he didn’t watch that which must mean someone else DID watch it, and he must have picked that up from them. He says, “Woo” though. LOL
And I realize medical taxis need to be fuel efficient, but wouldn’t they assume a heck of a lot of people who need those rides are also going to have a hard time getting in and out of those kind of cars?
Beverly Hillbillies was before my time, but I’m going to try to find them on streaming.
But he didn’t watch that which must mean someone else DID watch it, and he must have picked that up from them. He says, “Woo” though. LOL
And I realize medical taxis need to be fuel efficient, but wouldn’t they assume a heck of a lot of people who need those rides are also going to have a hard time getting in and out of those kind of cars?
Beverly Hillbillies was before my time, but I’m going to try to find them on streaming.3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (146148)
• United States
23 Apr
@AmbiePam We live close to where Elly May (Donna Douglas) was born and raised. (About 40 minutes from our house to her childhood home.) We saw Donna and Buddy Ebsen once in Silver Dollar City when I was in my twenties. Guards kept everyone away from them but they were just playing in the park like everybody else.
The medical taxis are all minivans so they can pack as many people into them as they can manage here. (They get paid $44 per person they take to appointments. I was assured by Medicaid that those are PRIVATE taxis and they should only take the patient and a carer if the person has one. When I told them that isn't the way they're done here, the Medicaid rep got upset! and said they'd talk to them and see about getting that changed. But nothing happened. I complain about it every time Medicaid calls and asks my opinion of their medical taxi service. They've called and asked my opinion three times now.)
I bought all the DVDs of the Beverly Hillbillies that came out. Once in a while I watch the entire series. 
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (97418)
• United States
23 Apr
@DaddyEvil That is so cool that you saw them! I would have been pretty excited.
Medicaid is ridiculous. I mean, I appreciate them, don’t get me wrong, but if they can do better, and we know they can, they should!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (188126)
• United States
23 Apr
I have decided I am too old for skating. I am a good skater, but my balance isn't what it used to be if I got tripped up somehow and ended up on the hard floor it wouldn't be pretty. Also, Tent camping is not something I am much inclined to do now. I don't want to be crawling out of a tent and walking to the dark to the bathroom. Of course, the right companion could make a difference!
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (188126)
• United States
23 Apr
@AmbiePam Not recommended..I am sure.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84383)
• United States
23 Apr
That does sound exhausting Anna and I can believe you're happy that it's over. I say I'll never move again unless I just walk out of here and not take anything
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42953)
•
23 Apr
Oh, I'm sorry. Pushing a car isn't easy on anyone, whatever the age. I hope it heals well and quickly for him.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42953)
•
23 Apr
@AmbiePam
I hope he is careful and doesn't jump right back into putting himself in pain again...ah, men!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (144245)
• India
24 Apr
"Torn calf musscle" That is scary Did not know exertion results in such accidents I must be careful. I am old
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (33920)
• Petaluma, California
24 Apr
Ow ow ow! Prayers for your dad's recovery.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (84188)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Apr
I hope your dad feels much better soon. Glad it was nothing worse, I agree with him I take no medication but I do take natural stuff like Valerian root drops if I need them for my anxiety or sleep.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (63894)
• Centralia, Washington
23 Apr
It depends. (Your poor Dad) One of my sisters is 75 and probably still could walk 3 miles without too much screaming. I am going to be 70 in January and God help me get two blocks. Your poor Dad. I truly am sorry. I know too much about people trying to haul me into tall vehicles without me hollering for the pain.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35917)
• Canada
23 Apr
I hope he feels better quickly.
I'm too old to ski like I used to. At least my knees are too old.
But skiing on the easier runs is still paradise.
Or, I need to get in better shape. At 70, I can't keep up with the 80 year olds I hike with.
I guess I'll go for a walk
But skiing on the easier runs is still paradise.
Or, I need to get in better shape. At 70, I can't keep up with the 80 year olds I hike with.
I guess I'll go for a walk1 person likes this
@Neil43 (3809)
•
12h
Wow, it sounds like you had quite an eventful day! Your dad's determination to push that car despite his age and previous injuries is both impressive and a bit concerning. It’s great that you were able to make him laugh during the ride home, though! Humor really does help in tough situations.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163160)
• United States
12h
I learn just how old I am every day, unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (114860)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Apr
Yes I have. I have slowed down at least.
Hope he feels better soon
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84383)
• United States
23 Apr
Your poor dad and I hope he follows instructions and gets better quickly.
I'm too old to sit on the floor and think I'll be able to get back up
1 person likes this
