Am I becoming Walt Kowalski?

[pownal55]

My oldest daughter sums it up best, " Dad you were born 50 years to late ". I tend to agree with her. When we built our house 8 yrs ago we chose a ten acre wooded lot surrounded by Green Mountain State Forest at the end of a private road, 500 ft driveway.
Deer, bear, turkeys, no people, yup this is the place.

 

[BigCityChief]

As I contemplate my upcoming 62nd birthday, I realize that I am more than ever identifying with Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino.) Common courtesy and common sense seem to be two things that have gone by the wayside; for example:

Yes, I have actually told someone to get off my lawn. In my defense, one of my neighbor's kids was driving a car across it, so I think I was justified.

I simply can't stand the sight of guys with their pants hanging off their butts, ball caps turned around backwards, or wearing undershirts (the so-called wife-beaters) as outer wear. I grant that this isn't a courtesy, but as a matter of decency, it is disgusting.

I have seen so many instances of people trying to move over into a lane of traffic, signaling, and yet no one will let them in. Conversely, I have seen people rush ahead to the front of a long line of traffic and then try to edge in, as if they aren't supposed to wait their turn.

I wish the stores that have express lanes (20 items or less, etc) would have some sort of program that once the cashier had rung up 20 items, he or she couldn't ring up anything else. Of course, those who don't respect the rules would just stand there and expect the cashier to ring up another 20 items. I have seen so many people go through these lanes with a full basket of items...and of course the stores don't have the balls to tell them to get out of that line and go to a full service line.

My wife is handicapped, so I am especially sensitive to this one: people who dump shopping carts in handicapped spaces. I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop, remove the cart(s), and then pull in. I don't know if people do this because they are just too lazy to take the carts back in or to one of the designated cart racks, or if they resent someone getting a "better" parking spot. (I would gladly trade our handicapped plates for my wife not to need them.)

I get very annoyed with people who are so busy with their cell phone conversations that they can't take care of the business at hand. I've seen many people at the grocery store, dry cleaners, theater, etc, who are so busy yakking about some inane facet of their lives that they can't pay and move on in a timely manner, while everyone behind them stands and waits.

I have seen people argue over things that just don't matter....or shouldn't, IMO. For example, the other day I was at Wal-Mart, and this woman was giving the cashier holy heck over a coupon or some item that didn't ring up with the 10 cents off she was expecting. I told them both I would gladly pay the 10 cents, or even a dollar, if that would get the issue settled, so I could check out and go.

I could go on and on, which makes me wonder if I am finding more to dislike than I like about this world we live in. Maybe I am just getting older (heck, no maybe about it) but it just seems like the world is becoming a much less civil place. No real news or revelation there...but Walt Kowalski is looking back at me in the mirror more and more every day.

You are not alone, my friend! I have no quarrel with any of your well articulated observations. You'd be welcome in my neighborhood.

 

[pharmer]

I'll be 60 this August, been crotchety for some time. People are actually smarter these days as 1000X more info is available at their fingertips. They just don't know how to actually do anything because they have never done much on their own. Check this clip unless it's against the rules.
Why We Need Common Core: "I choose C." - YouTube Joe

 

[COL Jagdog]

GKC, if you start having a hankering to study Hmong and you decide to give your dog away, then you really are becoming Walt

 

[skeetshooter]

"WALT",,You are my HERO

 

[DeathGrip]

It sounds just like another day. Damn.

 

[johngalt]

I'm only 45, and I feel pretty much the same way. The laziness I sometimes see is astounding.

An example: the grocery store parking lot has those cart return stalls. I've seen carts scattered around right next to it. How lazy can you be to not move the cart another 5 ft into the stall?

 

[GKC]

Buck up GKC! It won't last forever

My 91 year old dad says "A hundred years from now, it won't matter."

I expect it won't matter to me by then, either...

 

[Steely Dan]

I'm only 43 but on my way to being "Walt".

One thing I can't stand is to hear store employees complain that they haven't had a break or there have been too many customers or they don't get off for another 3 hours.

I tell them, "just quit and give someone who really wants to work a chance"

As a customer I could care less if you haven't had your smoke break yet. Sheesh!

 

[lawandorder]

We are all Walt.

 

[johngalt]

Another one this morning. Driving on a 4 lane divided highway and come to a stop light. There is an ambulance approaching with lights and siren in the oncoming lane and signals to make a left turn (in front of me). The light turns green, but of course I don't move and wait for the ambulance.

There is a jackwagon in a cement truck behind me who starts honking at me. He has no excuse to claim he didn't see it.

 

[Hack]

I'm also 62, the more I'm around humans, the more I appreciate my cats.

 

[old bear]

Hugo Chavez's medical bills in Cuba.

So that's why all the Citgo stations raised their prices...

 

[Art Doc]

I think every generation mistrusts and rejects the values of the next one. My mother did understand the Beattles. Her parents rejected Benny Goodman. Etc.

Interesting. The hero in Gran Torino (where a car shared the starring role) was named Kowalski, just like the hero in Vanishing Point from 1971, where a car (1970 Dodge Challenger R/T) shared the limelight.

 

[Marshwheeling]

the more I'm around humans, the more I appreciate my dogs.

Fixted....

 

[Bat Guano]

Some years back I had a bumper sticker on my truck, "The More I Know About Women, The More I Love My Truck". It was about 5 feet up as it was on the shell and so very visible to any drivers behind me. Traffic in the commute was usually very heavy (this was NOT in Wyoming...). I figure that several thousand people had the opportunity to reflect on it, half of them women.

It worked for me...

 

[GKC]

Some years back I had a bumper sticker on my truck, "The More I Know About Women, The More I Love My Truck". It was about 5 feet up as it was on the shell and so very visible to any drivers behind me. Traffic in the commute was usually very heavy (this was NOT in Wyoming...). I figure that several thousand people had the opportunity to reflect on it, half of them women.

It worked for me...

So does that mean you are single?

 

[Engineer1911]

Walt is right

Someplace there is a gathering of happy pants draggers -- we aren't their fathers. In a room with flowers and knicknacks, is a large group of women happily chattering up a storm -- we aren't their husbands. Because we seldom go to the Mall or even have a Mall, all the cell phone users are happy -- we are at the range.

Society is more stupid today then 25 years ago. People are indecisive or worse, incapable of making a decision. People have no problem solving skills. Something is wrong in their life, but they can't articulate what the problem is, and they certainly can't begin to guess the cause or how to make the repair.

I can tell stories about electrical and plumbing problems after 5:00 PM weekdays or on Saturday and Sunday when no one but the Big Box stores were open. It isn't because we passed 55 years, or 65 years, or 75 years. The stupid people did it to us. We learned and they NEVER will.

Walt Kowalski was too patient, too polite, and an optimist. Let the Revolution begin!

I sure do miss Snuggles ! ! !

 

[perfectcircle1]

I just had my 37th birthday and i feel absolutely no different than you. I can barely stand going to my local walmart because of the impolite and just plain ignorant people that consume that place.

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[moe l.]

Part of the problem is most of these 'people' grow up in fatherless households. They've never been taught self-respect, morals, etc. The further problem is, if they've never been taught, they're never going to teach their children, etc. so the problem now is ingrained in our society.