twenty five years

It has been twenty five years since my mother passed away.  I miss her.

it's a big deal

Today is my birthday.  It is one of those milestone birthdays.  I am seventy years old today.  It would be easy for me to say where did the time go but I know where it went.  It just went.  I hope I turned out all right.  I don't know.  I think I'm the same person now that I always was except just a little slower.  Good stuff, not so good stuff...it's all me.  I stand amazed.  Here's to who I am.  Cheers!

passing 200,000

Today was a big day for me and my car.  The odometer rolled over the 200,000 mile mark.  Wowsers.   The car had about 26,000 miles on it when I bought it and it has been my one and only ride of choice for over a dozen years.  I've kept it in great condition with plenty of oil changes, new tires, several batteries and all the normal stuff.  I've also done the necessary extras like a new radiator, brake work and corralling a loose ball bearing.  When my car was broken into this past year I took care of it and things are back to normal.  We've had some great adventures together.  Driving all over the country and visiting parks and people rank high on the list.  Driving over a mattress and box springs on the Mobile Bay bridge rank low on the happiness scale.  Rainy weather and baking hot weather...we're still together.  So, today was a pretty big milestone for the green machine and me.  200,000 miles.  I-5.  Just outside Sacramento.  Cheers!!

coughing

Right now I am going through my annual coughing spell.  It has been going on for several days and who knows when it will end.  No other symptoms accompany this coughing torment.  No sneezing, no drippy nose, no headache, no nothing.  I'm not sick...just sick of THIS.  I broke down and got some cough syrup yesterday.  It seems to help somewhat.  When I'm done with this, I won't have another coughing spell like this until next year at about this time.  It's an annual thing, like I said.

saying goodbye

I received some sad news today.  My Uncle Oscar has passed away.  He was ninety six years old and lived a good, long life.  I know he has reunited with his beloved Doris in heaven.  I know this wasn't totally unexpected but still.....I wasn't ready for this.  I know the thing that is most on my mind is that my parents and their siblings are all gone now.  That entire generation of my family is gone.  I miss having an older generation to talk with and about.  I find comfort in knowing that they lived by example and each one provided a different point of view of life and how to live it during my formative years.  I thank each one of them for that.  Rest peacefully.

super moon

The first full moon of the new year rose and set during the first night of the new year.  It's the wolf moon.  Perfect.  It's my birth month, as well.  Good omen for a good year ahead.  Here's to you, super moon.  Shine on.

beginning again

It is now the year 2018.  We are at the very start of a miraculous new year.  It always gives me joy to see the new year arrive.  I went to sleep last night with the fond memories of a year well lived.  I arose to the promise of making new, more and (maybe) even better memories this year.  That's the fun part.  I don't know what will happen.  And...that's kind of exciting.  Happy New Year to everyone.