I dunno, ask the old man...

I have achieved a new “status”, if you will, and it is one of great distinction and merit, I believe. It is being referred to as “the old man”…
I live at present, in close proximity to my four adult sons. They help me with the “heavy and hard” parts of what I am always tinkering with. They pretty much do what they want to at their age, but every once in awhile they turn up to “ask the old man” for advice or his “take” on something or other…
As I watched them grow from boys to men, I have tried not to interfere, but let them learn life’s lessons on their own. That is very hard for a father because it is in your heart to protect and shield them from harm, (and let’s not forget being able to say, “I told ya so, idiot!”) or, “why don’t you ever listen?” and all of the other wonderful questions that us “old men” ask at all of the wrong times and in all of the wrong places…(and sometimes about the wrong things…)
Some of them are married with children, theirs and hers. Some are not married, with children, (and we won’t go into that…), and some are miserable all by themselves. (It’s an acquired skill…) so you see, I am very busy sticking my nose into where it doesn’t belong… and giving advice nobody wants to hear, let alone follow…
And God forbid that I should mind my own business… after all, when you are a parent it is your God-given right to poke and prod at your children so that they are always feeling guilty and self-doubting… It is an age-old tradition, passed down from generation to generation, this business of interfering in your children’s lives and business. Why if we didn’t do it, who would? It is part of our “culture”, or maybe a lack thereof…
I even have their friends, both male and female, come around and ask me advice from time to time. I’m not sure why, other than the fact I have whiskers… and as everyone knows, people with either gray hair, and/or whiskers, has “already been through it”…

rowdyrufus, esq. old guy with whiskers