There is as wide a range of thinking about books as anything else. I'm a bibliophile and make my living mostly from writing. I collect books as others may collect Parkers, with a discriminating sense of value. I also distinguish one book from another because of limited space. I was here when Peter Johnson was going down, and emphasized as much as others could from afar from seeing Parker Pages snaps of him in his wheelchair.

As a result of this exchange, I took his book out for another read. I think I may have handled it more tenderly, not from what is in it or how it was written but because of sentiments, friendships and appreciation expressed here of the man. It's there for all its boosterism only because it was my first Parker book. Sentiment.

Empathise maybe?

I understand your point of view King.

awful to get old,dean. as the cliche, getting old isn't for sissies! my fingers are nimble but what goes up i sometimes don't recognize. i'm grateful for family and friends. flying, fishing and gunning still satisfactory

I, too, am learning this inevitable truth.... too often.

Peter Johnson was declining and two great members and great people, Charlie Herzog and Jim Hall, saw to it that he was taken care of and visited him. Jim helped clean up all the stuff that Peter left Elsa and they were able to help her.

For staying young, my friend John Dunkle just sent me pictures of his great ride, no not the Porsches, his Eddie Merkcx bicycle, and I'm going to work on John to do a cross state ride someplace sometime. That will keep you young..... get a whole bunch of Parker bikers together some time? About 200-300 miles in 4 days ?

awful to get old,dean. as the cliche, getting old isn't for sissies! my fingers are nimble but what goes up i sometimes don't recognize. i'm grateful for family and friends. flying, fishing and gunning still satisfactory.

i should add i'm also a zero thanker in the member info not from any lack of courtesy, memory or gratitude but because i think it's unnecessary, as are stars on the other board. we all know the importance of civility.

but morally and ethically, i think all this thanking raises the issue of benefits. recording them, counting them, ranking, puts them in another place if morals are how we treat others and ethics how we live our own lives.

i think we're judged by what we contribute to others around us, how we live to a standard of human values, without any consideration of benefits or thanks. otherwise it's what often passes as a business arrangement.

old men go on too long, and i don't like stirring things.

regards, king

Well King, please allow me to thank you for your civility both here as well as on the "other board".

only my body feels old in the morning...my mind still thinks young i still like to spin a wheel on the black top... and no one likes to look at old double barrel shotguns than i...espesially the big 8 gauges....but king you could have put it no better getting old is not for sisses...i just hope i aint one...charlie

Getting old ain't so bad, not when you consider the alternative.

Best Regards, George