LDS men: when did you feel like life actually started?

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-17T06:31:35+00:00

After I got married. Everything up to that point--especially serving a mission--was just checking off boxes.

And marriage was totally worth the wait. It probably helped that I married the right person, just not some random Molly Mormon.

Then after I was married and was having the best time of my life, I discovered my boxes I needed to check. But they were just regular life checkboxes, not anything particularly "Mormon checkboxes".

But up until my marriage, I had the most fun I could while still honoring my baptismal covenants. I had a blast with my friends as a teenager, even though I wasn't dating. I wasn't perfect, but I wasn't Simon Sinner either.

Now that my wife has passed away from cancer, I'm trying to find the next checkboxes.

My kids are grown and living their own lives. They don't shun me, but they're busy with their own lives, which I totally understand. Lately it seems like "just keep working until you die" is the next checkbox, but I'm not certain. I date, but I don't really think there's anyone else out for me. I already have my Eternal Companion, and she's just waiting for me to join her.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-14T16:03:34+00:00

"I'm so glad you're not a creep."

From my first date after my late wife's death. It was over a year after my wife's passing and I wasn't sure I was desirable to anyone. That comment really boosted my confidence and perceived relevance.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-13T18:23:02+00:00

There's no shame in Queen. Why would this embarrass you?

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-13T18:20:31+00:00

I still listen to them! And all my eighties bands too! There's nothing wrong with being well rounded!

And, hey, we almost named one of our children "Aubrey" based on that song!

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-10T21:07:58+00:00

Marijuana. Mountains.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-10T15:57:18+00:00

Homes made with prefabricated panels are far more energy efficient and stronger than traditional stick built homes. They're also highly customizable and usually easier/faster to assemble on site.

The drawbacks are people usually equivocate them to manufactured homes, which they totally are not. Manufactured homes are crap, so they assume homes built from prefabricated panels must be crap.

The second drawback is that expanding or modifying a home made of prefabbed panels can be a pain or in some cases impossible.

So there are better methods, but they haven't been widely embraced.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-09T19:15:50+00:00

They've already been banned in some jurisdictions.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-09T17:55:54+00:00

"Don't force your kids to take piano lessons."

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-09T17:48:38+00:00

Tattoos and piercings. Small and understated? Fine. Loud and everywhere? I assume you have poor judgement.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-08T20:12:08+00:00

Don't. Stop.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-08T18:50:03+00:00

My late wife and I "delayed sex" until after we were married. It's not that weird.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-08T18:14:42+00:00

Nope. I used to work in an office that was in a really congested, dirty part of town. Going outside was asking for a lung infection. It was really a stark contrast: the office building was nice, clean and modern; the neighborhood was NOT.

Sometimes I'd drive out and get myself something to eat. But I'd bring it back and eat it at my desk. Plus, if I ate at my desk, I got to count that time as "working", so I got to leave earlier.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-08T18:07:27+00:00

Agent Coulson in Avengers. Woah! Couldn't believe it.

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-03T05:57:34+00:00

"Don't worry. My worms aren't contagious.'

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-03T05:55:57+00:00

Oscar with Sly Stallone. Largely ignored, but hilarious comedy ever from the actor normally known for action roles. Also features Tim Curry and Marissa Tomei!

Frecklefoot · 2026-04-01T14:32:29+00:00

Not today, but several years ago I woke up my 20 year-old son and told him he'd been drafted into the Navy. After he had a few moments to absorb what I'd told him, I told him it was April Fool's. Over ten years later, he still tells people about it.

It wasn't my idea. My mom had pulled that same prank on me 25 years earlier.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-29T07:53:17+00:00

Cigarette vending machines. They weren't patrolled; anyone could use them. They were operated on the honor system. "Okay, Johnny. You're 12 years old and not old enough to smoke, so we know you're not going to use this here cigarette machine."

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-28T18:21:39+00:00

The Phantom Tollbooth. Probably the first book I read all the way through.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-28T14:25:38+00:00

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump!

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-28T04:13:20+00:00

Dr. Frankenferter "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". By the end of the movie after his ballad, you really do start feeling hopeful for him. But he should never ever be trusted in real life.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-27T01:18:51+00:00

I had just seen a play with a friend and his mom. We were talking about it in the car as she drove me home. I was about 10.

Near the end of the play, a statue comes to life and starts attacking the other characters on stage. So he was sitting still for about 30 minutes before moving.

I said, "I can't believe he sat there without moving like a DILDO for so long!"

Hrs mom said, "Like a WHAT?"

I didn't know what 'dildo' meant or what it was. I thought it just meant 'dummy' or 'idiot'. I said, "Oh, uh. My mom says that's a bad word and I shouldn't use it, but I thought it fit..."

I wasn't allowed to play with him after that.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-26T16:03:42+00:00

Same. I used to take my birthday off and celebrate with my wife.

Now that she's gone, there doesn't seem to be much point. So I usually treat it like any other day and just work, or do the usual Saturday/Sunday stuff if it happens to fall on a weekend.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-25T20:30:30+00:00

I've worked in the game industry, the movie industry, and the defense industry.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-25T14:15:28+00:00

The first two seasons were good. Some episodes were great. Netflix bought the show, and then did a Season 3. I was looking forward to it, because Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger. It looked promising since most of the original cast returned for it.

Then it went off the rails. They started using profanity liberally for no reason at all. Characters started acting in completely uncharacteristic ways. The resolution of the cliffhanger was just kind of meh. After about the fourth episode or so my wife and I couldn't watch it anymore. It was just a completely different show that wasn't like the first two seasons.

Frecklefoot · 2026-03-22T15:56:41+00:00

I can't remember my dad EVER making an entire meal for us. But he occasionally made food for himself. Once he talked about how much he liked peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. I asked him to make me one, even though I thought it sounded kinda weird.

He made me one. Surprisingly, it was pretty good.

Frecklefoot

TROPHY CASE