I totally feel what you are talking about. Learning something difficult is the interesting and fun part of life. I learned to fly a few years ago and this winter I am learning to build and repair tube amps. Both situations I thought I knew plenty going in, only to realize I know absolutely nothing on the subject, and I love that part.
Food and music are full of opportunities to fail and learning is endless. I think that is why they have stuck around as things I really care about for my entire life.
Your salmon fishing story struck a chord. Earlier this year my friend, who you met at Nixtaco, went on a trip to King Salmon, Alaska (real name) primarily to cross Grayling off his bucket list. They were bank fishing for salmon into a channel on the Naknek river with great success. Two Swedes waded into the channel and couldn't catch a thing. They were told that they needed to be on the bank and cast into the channel. They wouldn't do it, saying that wading was how they always fished.
I used to call it Crash Country Skiing. The only thing I excelled at was getting up. I had an awful fall where I fell on my tail bone going down a steep hill after I exchanged skis with a friend. Her skis were a lot longer than mine. It hurt so bad that I could hardly walk back to the van. Dr. said "you have seriously bruised your coccyx bone. I can't put it in a sling." So rest for about a week or so, and some painkillers. I lost my enthusiasm for X-Country skiing around that time.
I started cross country skiing at about 55 (who remembers?) and next week I'll be in Yellowstone enjoying the back country trails. Will I fall? Probably. But I will also get up.
Good for you for learning to cross country ski. If it’s any comfort to you, even those of us with 50 years experience fall when our skis hit those leaves. Learning how to fall safely takes some time.
So incredibly true never be afraid to challenge yourself fear of the unknown or of failure is mans greatest fear. Fall or fail keep going learn from it!
Couldn't agree more. Here's to learning for the rest of our lives, scuffing our knees occasionally, and laughing about it afterwards over a few beers. I needed this one this morning.
Good for you, Hank! Always good to try something new.
A few years ago, and I am the same age as you, I went to the local club to shoot sporting clays for the first time. I wanted to learn to shoot better for my new bird dog. I had no idea what I was doing. I brought my side by side 20 ga. and my hunting vest. I was terrible. I think I shot like 8 out of 50. It was embarrassing. I could have quit, but screw that. Fast forward a few years, and now I shoot every weekend, I am pretty good but am always learning (I even have a youtube channel for it), and I met some really good folks and made a bunch of new friends. That's not easy to do after you hit 50.
As for skiing, I have 2 tips: 1) learn how to fall properly to avoid injury (maybe a martial arts class?) 2) NEVER ski with loose dogs. They have a habit of stepping on the back of your ski and making you face plant in the snow. Trust me on this.
Love this post. Stay curious, and always keep an open mind, my mantra. My friend and I tried a downhill slope in winter park, co., on xxSkis, we didn’t want to rent new skis & lift guy said we could- it’s not such a good idea, but what a thrill, we were young. Snowplow didn’t work on that hill, but sitting down sideways did, with zig zagging all the way down on one side of the run, out of the traffic, powder is an easier landing. I started shooting at 50, just deer, very little practice, just good instruction from my husband, found out this pacifists is a dead shot, we always have deer in the freezer.
Funny... Speaking of the immortal Chumbawamba, When we were younger we'd call a big fish a 'Tub Thumpa'; never cared much for the song though. Get knocked down. Get back up again. Words to live by.
The last time I somersaulted was on cross-country skis. Going down a hill. My friend / teacher and I laughed so hard ....
PS And for the song!!! :)
"Fall down seven times, get up eight" (七転び八起き, Nana korobi ya oki) ~Japanese proverb
Thanks for the reminder, Hank! xox
Oops. Sorry, was not much of a music guy. Thanks for the lesson!
I totally feel what you are talking about. Learning something difficult is the interesting and fun part of life. I learned to fly a few years ago and this winter I am learning to build and repair tube amps. Both situations I thought I knew plenty going in, only to realize I know absolutely nothing on the subject, and I love that part.
Food and music are full of opportunities to fail and learning is endless. I think that is why they have stuck around as things I really care about for my entire life.
Your salmon fishing story struck a chord. Earlier this year my friend, who you met at Nixtaco, went on a trip to King Salmon, Alaska (real name) primarily to cross Grayling off his bucket list. They were bank fishing for salmon into a channel on the Naknek river with great success. Two Swedes waded into the channel and couldn't catch a thing. They were told that they needed to be on the bank and cast into the channel. They wouldn't do it, saying that wading was how they always fished.
I suck at my share of things but I did learn something today.....never new the name of that song was Chumbawama!
It's not! The band is Chumbawamba. The song is "TubThumping"
I used to call it Crash Country Skiing. The only thing I excelled at was getting up. I had an awful fall where I fell on my tail bone going down a steep hill after I exchanged skis with a friend. Her skis were a lot longer than mine. It hurt so bad that I could hardly walk back to the van. Dr. said "you have seriously bruised your coccyx bone. I can't put it in a sling." So rest for about a week or so, and some painkillers. I lost my enthusiasm for X-Country skiing around that time.
Ope! So sorry. I bruised my butt two weeks ago. Tailbone crashes really hurt!
I started cross country skiing at about 55 (who remembers?) and next week I'll be in Yellowstone enjoying the back country trails. Will I fall? Probably. But I will also get up.
Good for you for learning to cross country ski. If it’s any comfort to you, even those of us with 50 years experience fall when our skis hit those leaves. Learning how to fall safely takes some time.
Damn leaves...
So incredibly true never be afraid to challenge yourself fear of the unknown or of failure is mans greatest fear. Fall or fail keep going learn from it!
Couldn't agree more. Here's to learning for the rest of our lives, scuffing our knees occasionally, and laughing about it afterwards over a few beers. I needed this one this morning.
I absolutely loved “there is no stupid question except for the one you’ve already asked me three times”! I’m going to revenge that and use it.
On another note, Congratulations Hank on the Food&Wine article regarding hatch chilies!
Good for you, Hank! Always good to try something new.
A few years ago, and I am the same age as you, I went to the local club to shoot sporting clays for the first time. I wanted to learn to shoot better for my new bird dog. I had no idea what I was doing. I brought my side by side 20 ga. and my hunting vest. I was terrible. I think I shot like 8 out of 50. It was embarrassing. I could have quit, but screw that. Fast forward a few years, and now I shoot every weekend, I am pretty good but am always learning (I even have a youtube channel for it), and I met some really good folks and made a bunch of new friends. That's not easy to do after you hit 50.
As for skiing, I have 2 tips: 1) learn how to fall properly to avoid injury (maybe a martial arts class?) 2) NEVER ski with loose dogs. They have a habit of stepping on the back of your ski and making you face plant in the snow. Trust me on this.
Love this post. Stay curious, and always keep an open mind, my mantra. My friend and I tried a downhill slope in winter park, co., on xxSkis, we didn’t want to rent new skis & lift guy said we could- it’s not such a good idea, but what a thrill, we were young. Snowplow didn’t work on that hill, but sitting down sideways did, with zig zagging all the way down on one side of the run, out of the traffic, powder is an easier landing. I started shooting at 50, just deer, very little practice, just good instruction from my husband, found out this pacifists is a dead shot, we always have deer in the freezer.
Funny... Speaking of the immortal Chumbawamba, When we were younger we'd call a big fish a 'Tub Thumpa'; never cared much for the song though. Get knocked down. Get back up again. Words to live by.