Lighten It Up Already!

[Bob Norris]

Lets get off the geriatric Stuff and brag some about how us old and not so old dudes are makin it out there! The band Im in I bet the adverage age is 50. The guys have really pulled it together this year. Were a grade 5 band,, and out of 3 comps this year we have two 1st's and a 2nd. One of the comps had 10 grade 5 bands competing! Individually some of us have competed sucssefully solo as well. We might not have the dexteraty of the chaps but its made up for withshear determanation and drive!
Lets hear some more positive stories for a while here and Lighten things up!

[Brendan Dunne]

Right On!

This place needn't be stodgey. :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Speeder]

I agree wholeheartedly. Just because this is the "Adult Pipers" forum, it doesn't have to be doom and gloom. Seriously, age is only a measurement of time. In my band in addition to myself there are at least two other newbies who are into their 50's. We all look at it as a challenge.

At almost 57, I can still outwork any two people half my age and I'd sooner be an old fart than a young sh*thead any day.

As I tell the ladies, I'm not as good as I once was but I'm as good once as I always was.

FWIW,

[King Rat]

At 32, I probably do not qualify as an old fart yet, but as one who started playing the pipes at the age of 24, I have been pretty much a "mature student".

In both my present band and the one I used to play with, there were newbie mature students like myself. I am not as dazzling as some of the teenies in terms of technique, but I am much steadier in my execution of the tunes, and with my solid grounding in music theory and its applications, I bring about certain experience and expertise that seems to be too difficult for little smart-(_x_)'s to appreciate.

[DrFish]

I work with teenagers everyday. We may look at their flying fingers with envy, but do you really want to be a teenager again? Didn't think so. While we may bemoan our ailments, think about feeling awkward 24-7; the sense that EVERYONE is looking at you; your hormones are out of control and there isn't anything you can do about it; you can't go in the beer tent; every time you get a date a zit pops out on your forehead; and the other kids at school make fun of you becuase rather than captain the sports team, you don a kilt and play the bagpipes.
And the best reason of all to be us.....kids can't wait to be "adults." See, so why would we want to be anything else? And, what's even better, is the occassional time you beat the whipper snappers in comps. Did that this week, SWEET! :woohoo:
So Bob's right, it isn't so bad being older

[Ken MacKenzie]

Standing in the circle nearing the end of practice and listening to the complaints of how tired people are and hearing others beg to quit, then looking around and realizing that all the whining is coming from the teenagers and the old timers are just getting on with it always makes me feel very good about myself.

Of course, we never take the opportunity to point out that the old guys are ready to go for another two hours... Yearn for my teens again? Not likely.

The best part of retirement, well, one of the best, is getting a monthly paycheck for doing exactly as I please when and where I please. Getting here was a blast but the reality is even better.

Ken

[ThrowOnD]

When I was a teen I played saxophone in the high school band. Whenever we went to band festivals, I used to sit in awe of pipebands...but they were all OLD guys...like my dad!

When I was in my twenties, our CF reserve unit used to parade with pipers once a year..still I was in awe..but these guys were still older than me...old enough to marry my sisters!

When I was in my thirties, I was a Scout leader and there was always someone at a Jamboree piping a Scout group into the campground..and these guys were starting to look suspiciously like guys my age...

When I turned forty, I decided that I needed a mid-life crisis. I was through with the Forces, through with Scouting and I had all these spare nights to deal with...but I'm a practical sort. I like my wife, so womanizing was out. I drive the speed limit, so what would be the use of a sports car. I already SCUBA dive, so adventure sports didn't seem the way to go either....And then one day I was waiting to pick my wife up after work and there were bagpipes playing...and that was it...I started last October and I have no illusions (delusions?) about this. I have a practice chanter and 11 tunes in my practice book, I can play three from memory (somedays). I'll have a set of pipes before we start lessons in the fall again. Maybe I'll be good enough to play in a band. I don't know. I'm not shooting for a world championship, fame, or glory. I just want to be a piper..I guess I always did. I'm just glad I'm not alone

Dave

[tallbagpiper]

Damn!

I though for sure all that would be discussed in the Adult Piper forum would be where Metamucil was on sale this week!

[tallbagpiper]

By the way,

If a piper in front of you has had Metamucil AND is vigorously playing his pipes, DO NOT, repeat DO NOT march behind him in a parade !

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[Bob Norris]

That's it! keep it up. Just because we are "older" pipers it doesn't mean we cant play. I especially like the part from Ken about Stamina How true this is. Seems like we as adults tent to take playing a little more seriously. I'm not saying the youngsters don't but I know we do. Am I wrong that most of the top pipers now a days are at least in their thirties?

Here's a funny piping story. Last year at the Charleston Sc Highland Games we stayed at a motel on the beach. Awesome hanging out at the ocean for a country boy like me.
Piping on the beach seemed like the thing to do so around sunset I strolled out there and played to the seagulls. Not really paying attention except to the small waves rolling up over my rolled up jeans. To my surprise when I stopped there were about 40 people clapping behind me! (not sure if it was because I played good or I stopped) I thought to myself ,, this is kinda cool
Next morning About 6am (late fer us farmers) I decided to go out and play the sunrise in on the beach. Nary a person in sight I struck up and played a few airs and things. Mind you its still sorta dark that time of the morning. About 20 mins into it I see a flashlight coming down the beach. Thinking it was just beach combers I played on. Well next thing I know some burley Cop is standing there with a mean look his face. He asked me to stop and of coarse I did. He said someone complained (can you imagine!) I figured that would be it but it wasn't. He asked me for my name and ID. I told him my Id was back at the motel. He then proceeded to give me the 3rd degree. Then he ran a 29 on me ( Cop talk for a warrant check) I asked him how may pipers around there were bank robber ect. He didn't think that was to funny either.
We proceeded to walk up the beach towards the motel and the report came in ,, no warrants. (geeze I could have told him that)
As we approached the motel there was a flock of piper groupies out there on the back deck booing the Cop. I signaled them to hush and I figured I was going to the clink (Jail).
Anyway realizing the folks there liked piping and most of them had half a kilt on ready to go to the games, He cut his losses a split.
Can you imagine?????