The Road

 It's been awhile since I posted on the blog. I usually only post when we're on a trip.  No trips recently, just navigating down this road we call retirement. I do however have some thoughts to share with you if you care to listen.

This past Sunday looked like it was going to be one of the last warmer days for a while as we drift into the colder months towards winter. We decided to fire up the grill and partake in one last summer ritual with some barbecued ribs.

As I'm out on the deck, it's late in the day the sun is falling and there's this warm glow off the horizon. The silhouette of a lone squirrel is jumping the treetops, making its way to settle down in its den for the evening. The evening is peaceful, there is a hoot owl in the distance calling to its mate.

I walk over to the window, which is directly in front of the kitchen sink.  There she is head down hard at work washing dishes.  She doesn't detect my presence, so I press my nose up against the window, surely this would entice some attention!  No such luck as she continues to go about her work.  I rhythmically begin to lightly tap on the window, surely she'll notice, but no such luck.  As she finishes the dishes and turns off the water, my tapping continues she looks perplexed as she reaches up again to give the faucet an extra tug and at that moment looks up startled she realizes she's been had!  We share a smile and a laugh.

As I'm staring at her through the window like a young Labrador waiting on a snack, I come to realize that we have been on this road we call life together for over fifty years.  I return to the rail on the deck to capture that last bit of light as it creeps below the horizon.  I take a moment to reflect on how incredible our trip down life highway has been thus far.

Life experiences down the road have been many. The lessons it has offered along the way have made me who I am today.  It's not always smooth sailing on the blacktop.  Sometimes the road is muddy and filled with potholes. Sometimes the road forces you to make tough decisions. Do you go left or right? But Ive never been down this path before? There's even the occasional roadblock that forces you to turn around and go back to where you've been. 

We've had friends and family and friends that feel like family go through some things this year on the road through life, I'm sure it felt to them like they were off the road at times. We have other family members about to make important decisions about the path they choose to take down the road. A road uncharted towards new beginnings and careers.

My tires may be getting a little old and worn and I don't travel down the road as fast as I use to.  I know I have been lucky enough to have a good co-pilot to help me navigate along the way, and when we were both lost we let God help us navigate the road.  

On this day to give thanks.  Whether it's family, friends, or friends that feel like family, find your road's co-pilot and remind them how much you love and appreciate them.  

Me & my Co-pilot