r/GenXTalk

My dad is a retired mechanic. 62, the kind of guy who fixes everything around the house, mowers, dishwashers, fences, you name it. Father's Day is coming up and he gave me the usual line: "don't get me anything, I don't need a thing."

he owns every tool, knife, and grill gadget out there. Has for years. So I never know what to get him

what changed this year, I was at his place last weekend watching him work under my sister's car. He stood up and just froze, grabbed his lower back, brushed it off when I asked. My mom told me later he's been complaining to her about it but won't say a word to me or my sister.

So I went ahead and got him a skg back belt early and just shoved it in a bag with a card. He looked at it and said "I don't need this, I'll just move more." But I caught him wearing it the whole time he was bent over a motorcycle in the garage this past weekend. Won't admit a thing, obviously

now I still need to get him something for the actual day and I'm stuck. Tools are out, he's got them all. He doesn't really have hobbies, mostly just works on things and watches tv. I was thinking a good knife but he already has like 6, and his aren't even that old. Budget is around $80 if it matters

I'm not a regular consumer of fast food. It's an option I use once or twice a month when time constraints mean it's eat this or eat nothing.

So I always have to apologize to the servers because I haven't memorized their menu and need time to browse.

Then the menu switches. And I wait. And sometimes an ad shows. And I wait. Like WTF.

Yeah, I could look online, but as I said, it's usually a fly decision to order fast food. I mean, wasn't that the initial selling point of "fast" "food"??

Anyway, IMO, they gotta ditch those animated menus.

Agree? Disagree??

After most of my life with a great career, accomplishments, etc. I find myself unemployed and as a Senior Sales leader it’s been really difficult to find a job. It’s been months and I’ve never struggled like this.

People say ageism is real. But I know plenty of people my age and older that are not unemployed.

When I don’t get a job after going 7 interviews because they pause the requisition, people say “that job wasn’t a good match and something better is waiting for you”. This is so hard to believe.

Yes, millions are unemployed, but exponentially more millions are not. It’s hard to not let this impact your self esteem.

The only thing that seems to counterbalance some of these platitude is that many who are employed say they are miserable, or living in fear waiting to be laid off or fired any day. Financial planners have also told me that upwards of 50 percent of their retired clients , didn’t choose it.

For those of you unemployed, I am so sorry. I really understand. I know what you are going through.

Partner and I had an exuberant bedroom session on Friday. I'm not saying it wasn't absolutely worth it but his back is out and my hips are on fire.

Getting old blows. What do the rest of y'all do if this happens? Stretching? Ouch.

Thanks!

See original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/GenXTalk/comments/1uc7u75/connecting_with_exs_parents/

So I decided to stop in and see my ex's parents. I haven't seen them in 30 years!

I decided to just stop in like it was the 90s.

The visit went great and we spent an hour catching up! I am really glad I stopped in.

I pulled into the driveway and instantly got Déjà vu from all the times I pulled into the driveway as a teenager.

The mom met me at the door and said Hi to me. I called her by name and asked her is she remembered me.

She said no! At that moment, I was thinking, shit this was a bad idea!

I told her my name and she froze and then instantly recognition came back and she gave me a hug and invited me into the house.

The father was in the kitchen and the mom, asked him if he recognized me. He also said no! She then said, this is XX and he also froze and then instantly recognition came back and he gave me a hug. It was nice. I got a little teary.

We spent an hour catching up. They were healthy both physically and mentally healthy and were planning a road trip at age 80.

They gave me a tour of the house. It was a mind trip, seeing the place again. Lots of memories came flooding back.

It was funny getting their perspective on things from that time period and they brought up details I had totally forgotten about.

I gave them my cell # and told them to call me if they needed anything. They encouraged me to stop in again and wanted to stay in touch.

It was great and I got to tell them how much they meant to me as a teenager. That was priceless.

Thanks for all the advice in the original post!

My Dad taught me to always carry cash “just in case”. The wife and I budget $150 a month in fun money and take it out in cash. I use it for impulse buys, lottery, picking up a round on the golf course, tips, etc.
Honestly it feels great but I don’t see it much in today’s digital world. So I’m wondering if anyone else is on the program and at what amounts?