Wow! Three hundred posts! Of course it took me 5 years, I could have written several books in that time. But man has this been a ride. Almost an entirely new set of grandkids (to go along with the blue chip ones I already had) One new son-in-law, to go along with the blue chip in-law kids I already had. 5 more years with my life-long love, my beautiful bride. Lots of ups and downs, hopefully some laughs, a few tears, some grumbling, and little griping. A wonderful journey, the pack is an old friend and a welcome companion.
But we are born to move forward. It jolts me each time I read on FB or on posts, or in snail mail that someone my age is turning it in. They are going to "retire". I have to count up in my head how old I am and wonder where the years went. But I also admit with a certain belligerence that I am not ready to retire, I am not ready to "settle down." There is something in my nature that makes me want to move forward and not necessarily towards any certain goal line, but because that is what I do. We start out looking to the next phase in our lives, from toddlers to preteens, to teenage years, to young adult, to middle-age, to....now. I don't want to stop and smell the roses, they have thorns. I want to cinch up the pack and see what is around the next bend, see the next vista, drink in the new opportunities.
It is part of my nature to wonder what is next. As my bride will tell you with a certain exasperation that I like new ideas, new thoughts, new directions. Adventure is just ahead and ready to be grappled with and once subdued allowed to get up and start the match over again.
But I have learned a few things on the journey thus far.
It is more important who you live/work/deal with than the number of digits on the check or in the checkbook.
Your greater regrets are about things you didn't do, than what you did do.
No one got to the end of their lives and wished they had worked more.
The traits that drive you crazy in other people are probably the traits that drive others crazy dealing with you.
As this blog has always stated: Your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness.
There is a great uncounting, we are driven towards it whether we want to be or not. How we spend that great uncounting is determined here where it is all counted.
Your "firsts" are more memorable than your "lasts". Your "lasts" are more haunting.
And last, but not least, He Knows My Name.
Godspeed. Here's to the next 300, may they be done in a shorter length of time.
Don
