Story by Jon Stalnaker AKA The Studebaker Dude
I’ve got two more stories to write to finish off this book for 2025. The last one can be a review of a very busy year that’s coming to an end, so that leaves just one more story to write. My previous story was about how we were so tired that we struggled to finish our Christmas decorating. Well, we got it done thanks to an unexpected guest who called to ask if she could stay over in the Boyd Suite again. She visited us in early October and gave me ideas for two stories, which I greatly appreciate.
She is the “Make-it-Happener” from my former community of Dixon, California, and she keeps us all updated on what’s going on with our mutual friends and the town we called home for the 25 years before becoming Sapulpans. She is also a former Studebaker owner, and her son lives in Grove, Oklahoma, so we have lots to talk about. It’s always enjoyable when she stops by.
She called when Carlene and I were moping about having to get the decorating done. We were so tired. It was exactly what we needed to motivate us off our keesters and got us to work right away. I needed a bigger boost after writing last week’s story, and this was perfect.
By the way, the picture I submitted for last week’s story was one I took last year. When I submitted that story, we had not done anything yet. It’s done now, and it feels so good. We still have some packages to mail, but Carlene is all over that one. She LOVES Christmas. We should have that done this week.
Getting older is definitely different from what I envisioned when I was younger. As the fifth of five children, I didn’t see many elderly people in my immediate family. My father was the fourth of four children. People didn’t live as long back then, and I, being the last of my generation, by the time I was old enough to get to know my grandparents, I only had one left. Papa lived with us when I was a teenager, and he was active until he retired. I think he worked until he was in his 80s.
When he retired, he stopped being active, and he declined quickly. I watched him go from my dad’s fishing and hunting buddy to a man who could no longer get out of his recliner. I saw him waste away in an old folks’ home and swore I would never get like that. And that is what motivates me to stay active and work out 6 days a week. I see it as keeping one step ahead of Father Time.
But I continue to get older, and staying active is becoming more of a chore. I think of Papa every day when I don’t feel like going upstairs to work out. I’m nowhere near the point where I give up and start sitting in my chair instead of doing something productive. I insist on taking care of myself until I absolutely can’t. I hope I never see that day.
The other motivator for me is not wanting to be a burden to my wife. Every day I wake up is a gift from God, and I don’t want to waste it. Christmas is alive and well in our home. My wish for Christmas is that everyone can enjoy the holiday and be thankful for the reason for the season. Merry Christmas and have a great New Year…
