Yeah, I gave up on the NFL. I was never a diehard fan, but I was a pretty big skins fan. I would usually watch them. Maybe it's just what we did when I was growing up as a family, but now ...it's just not the same game, and there are so many more options now than there were 30-40 years ago. I haven't really watched football in the last 5-10 years and have given up entirely over the last 3-4. I don't miss it either. Unless I am actually bored and have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, and nobody is around, and I feel like killing some time (which the culmination of these things never happens), I just don't even think about it. Glad for it. Honestly, I think I miss the idea of it more than anything else - sit around and relax with family on a Sunday to watch our team. I may have watched maybe 10 games in the last 5 seasons and that includes playoffs and super bowls. I probably couldn't even name 10 current Skins players. Actually, more like 5. I try not to be a bitter old guy about it, but that's how it makes me feel - like a grumpy old man.
Pretty much feel the same about the direction of most things these days. Every time I start to get angry or heated about a subject, I think...."man, I must be getting old", but the reality is...things really have taken a turn for the worse. I can't listen to the news or watch tv without shaking my head and thinking....where have we gone
I have always been, and always will be a "substance over image" kind of guy, yet that is the opposite of what most things are today. Nobody actually gives a crap about the truth or doing the right thing, only the appearance of it. Politics, media, music, movie stars, pro athletes, etc, etc. As long as you look good, everything is okay. Well...that is not going to lead our culture and our country to success. Well, I said "nobody" but that's not accurate....mostly
I know my dead relatives would absolutely cringe at today's culture. My uncle, who was born around 1920, lived through hard times; depression era, served in WW2, learned, worked and lived a long 96 years. He was one of my favorite people to talk to. He was a man of character, with values, and a work ethic. He made a life for himself and his family through hard work and hard times. Lived a full life that was HARD, and was all the better for it. I can't imagine what he would think of today's NFL and His country, which he proudly fought for, all the other shenanigans that go on in politics and today's culture and so on....
Sorry, but I have digressed into my "grumpy old man" again. 
And I AM NOT THAT OLD. I'm only 52. Not old enough to be a grumpy old man, so I guess I am a grumpy middle aged man.
(Yes, if you do the math, my Uncle was much too old, but my father is 78 and he was the 8th of 8 children, and was born when his father was 52 and his mother was 46. (the doctors thought he was a tumor 
[size=78%]) [/size]
He essentially grew up an only child.
My uncle was pretty much my grandfather figure. My actual grandfather was born in 1890 and my grandmother was born in 1896. It's crazy to think. Grandfather died at 82 (throat cancer) but had been a heavy smoker for decades. Grandmother lived to 97. All 8 of there children (my aunts and uncles) lived well into there 90's. Five of them have passed now, all lived to at least 94 years old. (Well, my dad isn't in his 90's yet.) The three youngest are now 92, 86, and 78. (and the 86 year old still drives and plays golf 3-4 times a week. Although....you REALLY don't want to ride with him.
Okay, sorry about the rant and the family history....got carried away in my old man-ness. It would have sufficed to say...I don't watch the NFL anymore, because it stinks like most other things these days.
I too, am still hanging on for hockey.
Season get here already. Go Caps!
My late 40’s, thru early fifties, was the time when I felt I was at my “grumpiest”, so far!
It was hard to tell how much of the world was truly getting more sour, versus how much my age was affecting my overall perspective. Probably a lot of both! LOL!
Over the last 4-5 yrs, for some unknown reason, I’ve started trying to be more intentional in navigating the route through general life! I just seem to filter out more negative stuff, and welcome more positive stuff! You could say I’ve grown a bit more selective with what I choose to deal with on a daily basis.
Not trying to depict a fairytale type of peace here, at all! Lord knows, there’s plenty of endless shit still out there, that can almost drive you to a “Texas Tower”, moment! But don’t really know why the change in the last few years is happening.
Maybe I’m a tiny bit better at lettin go of some of the crap sandwiches that life tries to serve you from time to time! LOL!
Seems like you’ve got some pretty serious longevity, in the DNA of your family tree, Rich!
That’s cool, I think!
Now it’s just a matter of strapping that seat belt on for the rest of the RIDE!!!
Rush
