Wayyyy OT---The Lost Generation

[TOOL MAN]

Was making a few final adjustments to the ol' snow blower this morning, when it dawned on me, I never filled my 5 gallon "mower-blower" gas tank, that I religiously keep topped-off, in the case of some unfoeseen weather event. Ratttts, I pride myself on being one step ahead of those "11th hour boneheads", who I just knew, would be 10-deep in line, at my local station.

Worst fears realized. The corner MOBIL, looked like they were handing out Playmate of the Year calendars, with every 10 gal fill-up!!!!! Cursing my unpreparedness, I jockeyed into position, some 10 car lengths behind the closet pump. What a sight. You would of thought NORAD had just spotted the first wave of ICBM's leaving Moscow!!!! God bless the American news media for conditioning all of us, the need to drive our cars, eat toast and drink warm milk, at the first sign of a snowflake!!!!

Anywho, after 20 minutes or so, I was one away from paydirt. It was then, I noticed the old Dodge Dart, berthed at a 30 degree angle to the pump, two in front of me. I watched as the door swung slowly open and out crawled a frail-framed, elderly woman,
bundled up in a coat, that could have accompanied Amiral Byrd on his last exploration to the polar regions. The poor thing was obviously crippled with arthritis, as her movemnets were agonizingly slow. She finally reached the trunk of the old relic and pulled out an old, rusty 1 gallon gas can.

Meanwhile, 10 feet to the side of her, sat an SUV, that could have easily traversed, The Sea of Tranquillity!!! Out pours Daddy, looking like he just posed for a Dunn's catalog and his 3 off-spring, 2 boys and a girl, who from my vantage point, looked to be in the 13-18 year old range. Two of the fledglings immediately pulled out their Blackberrys and started to text their buddies....while the third, leaned against the car, and peered at this woman, as if to say...."hurry-up, you pathetic old bag!!!!!" All the while, Daddy
just stood there silently, filling his tanker ship, watching the poor woman struggling to get the rusted cap,off the can!!!!

Now.... far be it for me to jump on my soapbox....BUTTTTTTTTT, had that been my father and brothers in this scenario, and we dared to just stand around with our thumbs tucked-up our arrrrrses, we would have been the unlucky recipients of 3 FREE colonoscopys, well ahead of our 50th birthdays!!!!

Naturally, being a Fox man, I came to her aid, filling her gas can and helping complete the credit card tranaction at the pump. She couldn't have been any sweeter. She was so appreciative of my help, that she squeezed my arm tightly, forcing a dollar bill into my hand and wishing me a happy new year. ( No....I didn't take it and I didn't even ask, if her husband had any old doubleguns laying around!!!!!!) As the old Dart, hobbled away, I envisioned her huddled mass, pushing some prehistoric snow thrower, no doubt in the height of the storm...too proud to ask anyone for assistance. Ahhhhhh....The Greatest Generation.

Hell, we can find an Egyptian restaurant in North Dakota, on our GPS, watch Harry Potter in the back of our minivans and download satellite pictures of Paris Hiltons' panties, on a 4G, cell phone network!!!!! All wonderful technology.....but what really, have we gained??? I'm afraid that basic, family values have been replaced by "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and "Growing up with The Kardashians" All we have created, is a dysfunctional, band of gypsies. I unfortunately, hold out very little hope, for this
"Lost Generation"-----------TOOL

[Silvers]

Mr. Roll, I agree generally, but also think all isn't lost just yet. I'm happy to see some of the newest generation with their heads high, showing responsibility, and having good clean fun at places like Hausmann's NE Shoot..... Parker 16's son Danny comes to mind. One of the Fox CA members always brings his two teenage sons to the shoot; both of them were all over Foxist's XE last year, knew what they were handling and were outgoing and respectful over two days that I saw them. I'm sorry but I can't recall their names. There were other younger guys and gals. Similarly at the Southern SxS where many younger shooters were there and some of them placed well for the Challenge. Same thing at the Vintage Cup.

Away from the shooting scene... two weeks ago I was heartened to see the Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees on a rainy day in my old elementary school yard. I'd driven there for a reunion of sorts, and found signs on the doors that the event was cancelled DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER (48-degrees and raining?). But the Boy Scouts were cheery out front selling trees on the muddy lawn. This old Scout talked at length with several of them, and I heard about their interests and takes on life in general that reminded me of my peers' of many moons ago.

I concur we are sliding quickly as a society, but thankfully there are some bright spots here and there. Diamonds are where you find them! Silvers

[Researcher]

Don't despare Tool! We are still producing fine young men and women willing to put honor and duty before self. Thursday I had the honor to take a very fine young man who is a medic with one of the U.S.Army's extremely elite hostage rescue teams out pheasant hunting. He did use a black Bennelli though. A little closer to what he uses at work! Skitso was on her game and performed flawlessly for the occassion.

[MikeR]

Dear Toolman do not despair. This reply is hopefully not seen as a brag but an endorsement of the next, best generation.
My oldest son just completed a tour in Afghanistan with 130 combat missions as a 2nd LT platoon leader. His younger brother just graduated from U of W
and instead of going into business he answered the commencement speech of Robert Gates to step up and is about ready to start ranger school
at Ft Benning as a 2nd LT. The girl friend of the second son is at an inner city school with a two year commitment for Teach for America. The next brother (third son) was at the local YWCA before Christmas helping put on a holiday party for homeless families. He had three friends helping out. These are just some of the many stories and successes out there. Take heart and have confidence in our future. I do!
I went hunting yesterday with the second son and we spent some time swinging a Sterlingworth 20. Hopefully we can also teach them the excitement and tradition of a great double.
Mike

[Foxnut]

Mike,
Sounds like you've raised three fine men that you should be proud of! I am with you, while I do get frustrated sometimes at some of the antics of today's youth as well as their parents antics I am often reminded of some of the great things this generation is doing. Sitting in church on Sunday I was again reminded of this when our pastor acknowledged two young men who were home on leave from the Army. One of these young men was preparing for his fourth rotation to Iraq and one is finishing up his OBC at Fort Knox. Makes you have an appreciation for this genreation and what they are volunteering for and what they are sacrificing!

[JakeFlyFish]

Most interested in the link to Paris Hilton's panties! Just kidding. I was just complaining to my wife yesterday about what a screwed up bunch of kids we never see in a pick up game of football, baseball, basketball or anything anymore. Snow days off school meant to me the Brittany Spaniel was going to get quite a work out and maybe a few more traps sets on the trapline. Now a days a school kid thinks a trapline is a new game on X box or whatever the hell plays those things. I'm only 54 but I'm appalled at how it's slipped. I had to quit teaching school because I wasn't willing to be cussed out by 4th grade girls. I won't even describe high school.
Did I get whipped as a boy? Yep. Did it keep me straight? Yep, ( regardless of what the higher ups on the L.C. Smith board think!) I'm a respectful person to this day to everyone unless they cross me. I applaud your efforts to pump that womans gas. It's what America is about. Also, we as a country should OPENLY recognize and thank the ex and current military personnel from EVERY aspect of the armed services. God Bless America and God Bless this guy that pumped this womans gas. Jerry Andrews

[Witty1]

Interesting story Toolman sadly one we see every day. But there are a few real Americas left, Fox men, and glad to see we share the same values. But I would have asked if she had any doubles (kidding) I’m a Boy Scout Leader and I have triplet boys now 15 and all Life Scouts in BSA and it seems whatever we do something that is good it never makes the paper or gets any press until now.

Every year we do a flag retirement ceremony around Flag Day as most troops do. A few years ago an old Vet came to us with the idea of taking it a step farther and putting the Flag ashes on veteran’s graves vs. putting them in a dumpster.
“Neff’s PA BSA Troop 57 Ashes to Graves ceremony, perhaps the first ever involving Boy Scouts. In Ashes to Graves, the ashes of properly retired American flags are taken to and spread over the graves of war veterans.” See this link to Boys Life we have a small article.

http://boyslife.org/home/newz-more/1432 ... to-graves/

We have now team up with the American Legion and are trying to make this a nation ceremony and should be in the American Legion magazine soon. So there are a few good Americas left and a few boys that do the right thing and like to shoot that old STW 20 ga sxs when we bird hunt.
Keep the faith.