“No, no…I don’t need you to come over,” she said. “Will you just go through it with me over the phone? I’m determined to do this myself!” That was several days ago… Today… My mother-in-law completed her census form online, with me breathing on the other end of the invisible wire–
Hi Gail, Reminds me of a friend who used to ask, “I just bought a book on weightlifting. How many times will I have to read it to bench press 500#?”
Another friend, now perhaps on his trek in another dimension, had some journeys that left quite an impression. First, he and his son canoed the Mississippi River twice, from headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
A few years between paddles...
Later he traversed the Appalachian Trail solo. I think his service as a U S Marine provided the grit for such an undertaking. Sometime after that accomplishment he wrote a memoir titled “Life Is A Great Trip!”
Later still, with a diagnosis of early onset dementia, he wanted badly to solo trek the A T one more time. As much as his family objected, the more he protested and insisted he was up to the challenge.
Sadly his health deteriorated rapidly. That trek remained a sort of sustaining, wished for journey.
Our last visit was in a Lowe’s parking lot. As I stepped out of my car, I saw someone - viewed from the back - who reminded me of Ken. A bit thinner and slightly bent (not at all his ramrod posture), I just sensed this person had lost his vehicle. Approaching, I knew this was my friend.
I acted like my approach was just to say “hello.” In time he volunteered that he couldn’t find his truck. And I volunteered to help. Asking for model, he couldn’t recall. I scanned the lot and, in the shade of a parking lot tree at a point farthest from the store, I saw a Toyota Tacoma.
Joking somewhat I asked, “Do you pick parking spots like I do?” He hesitated. I asked if a shady spot far from the store was his MO. He grinned. We walked to his truck just to be sure it was indeed his. Bingo! As thanks he gave me his phone number so I could call and give my address to his wife so she could send a copy of his book.
A treasure.
Ken certainly was like your quote advises: “Get started today!” As for the fellow on the trail today, he indeed has started. Is May early enough to avoid the mosquitoes as big as bald eagles? Black flies??
Thanks for your ceaseless encouragement to rise to new challenges.
Hi Gail, Reminds me of a friend who used to ask, “I just bought a book on weightlifting. How many times will I have to read it to bench press 500#?”
Another friend, now perhaps on his trek in another dimension, had some journeys that left quite an impression. First, he and his son canoed the Mississippi River twice, from headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
A few years between paddles...
Later he traversed the Appalachian Trail solo. I think his service as a U S Marine provided the grit for such an undertaking. Sometime after that accomplishment he wrote a memoir titled “Life Is A Great Trip!”
Later still, with a diagnosis of early onset dementia, he wanted badly to solo trek the A T one more time. As much as his family objected, the more he protested and insisted he was up to the challenge.
Sadly his health deteriorated rapidly. That trek remained a sort of sustaining, wished for journey.
Our last visit was in a Lowe’s parking lot. As I stepped out of my car, I saw someone - viewed from the back - who reminded me of Ken. A bit thinner and slightly bent (not at all his ramrod posture), I just sensed this person had lost his vehicle. Approaching, I knew this was my friend.
I acted like my approach was just to say “hello.” In time he volunteered that he couldn’t find his truck. And I volunteered to help. Asking for model, he couldn’t recall. I scanned the lot and, in the shade of a parking lot tree at a point farthest from the store, I saw a Toyota Tacoma.
Joking somewhat I asked, “Do you pick parking spots like I do?” He hesitated. I asked if a shady spot far from the store was his MO. He grinned. We walked to his truck just to be sure it was indeed his. Bingo! As thanks he gave me his phone number so I could call and give my address to his wife so she could send a copy of his book.
A treasure.
Ken certainly was like your quote advises: “Get started today!” As for the fellow on the trail today, he indeed has started. Is May early enough to avoid the mosquitoes as big as bald eagles? Black flies??
Thanks for your ceaseless encouragement to rise to new challenges.