I’m an Old Man with a Young Man’s Dream

By Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise) - www.GeezerWise.com

May 13, 2025

Dear Reader,

I’m 73 years old.

I type with two fingers.

I’ve battled addiction, rebuilt from the wreckage, and somehow ended up here—writing to you online, building something I never thought I’d live long enough to build.

And here’s the truth:

I’m an old man…
with a young man’s dream.

I’m not trying to go viral.
I’m not here to impress anyone.
I’m here to leave something behind that matters.

💭 What I’m Building

I’m building a place—GeezerWise—where everything I’ve lived through can help someone else.

I want to become a published writer who creates content worth reading. Letters that stick with you.
I want to help people with addictions find hope, humor, and a way back.
I want to empower anyone who’s ever felt “too late” to believe again… and act on that belief.

It’s not too late.
You’re not too broken.
And your dream isn’t too small.

🛠 What I’m Actually Doing (So Far)

✍️ Writing personal letters: Letters to My Son… If I Had One
💰 Teaching real-world recovery and side hustles: Money Talk & Side Hustles
📖 Preparing to publish short-read books on Amazon
💌 Building a community of readers who believe in second chances and self-reliance

I’m doing it one letter, one post, one story at a time.
Sometimes raw. Sometimes funny. Always honest.

🌱 What I Hope Happens

I hope someone reads these words and gets that first flicker of “maybe I can…”

Maybe I can stop drinking.
Maybe I can write.
Maybe I can build a business.
Maybe I can come back from all the crap I thought would bury me.

🕰 Why I’m Saying This Now

Because I don’t want to wait until it’s “ready.”
Because life is short and getting shorter.
Because if I say it out loud—here, now—I’m accountable to it.

And maybe, just maybe, it will help you say your dream out loud too.

If You’re Still Reading…

Thank you.
You’re part of this now.

This is a personal experiment. A legacy project. A second shot.
And I’ll keep showing up—every week—to remind you that you’re not too old, not too far gone, and not alone.

Welcome to GeezerWise.

Let’s do something with the time we’ve got left.

—Fred
GeezerWise

📥 Footer

This letter was written by Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise). If it spoke to you, I’d love to hear back—just hit reply.

💭 Got a question, memory, or topic you'd like me to write a letter about? Hit reply and let me know—I won’t respond individually, but I may turn it into a future letter. Consider it a suggestion box for the soul.

💌 Know someone who’d appreciate this? Forward it or invite them to subscribe at www.geezerwise.com.

⚠️ If you see a message below about pledging support—that’s Substack’s way of letting readers chip in if they want. Totally optional but always appreciated if this work means something to you.

—Fred [GeezerWise]

Letters to My Son… If I Had One