This was mid-November 2013. And we were glad we went anyway. – JDW
***
My wife was so sick, so very sick, the worst cold in her life.
Took the week off – vacation! – and spent most of it in bed.
We went anyway.
The night before our planned departure, I get a call.
My mother has been nine-one-oned to the hospital.
We went anyway.
Don’t get out much. Weekly grocery shopping pretty much extent of my travels these days.
Every couple of weeks trip to the old folks’ home.
Almost by accident, I have been – since high school graduation so very long ago –
something of an action-kind-of-guy
Oh, the stories I could tell… but for the statute of limitations.
Now I am old, retired, married.
So weekend on Cedar Key damn exciting.
Plus the room was pre-paid.
So we went anyway.
***
Any label is your enemy.
Former world record holder gave me permission not to run.
My wife told me she didn’t want me to lose any more weight.
Writer gave me permission not to write.
Still want to do all those things.
Can I be so wrong?
***
It is only – usually, for most of us – by virtue of comparison
we become dissatisfied with what we have.
In other words, most of the time nothing
is really all that wrong with our lives –
everything is just fine, about exactly as it should be –
until we compare.
***
Flexibility is key. Real key.
Being ready is the first fight before the fight.
It doesn’t matter if you make it.
What matters is you don’t quit.
You never quit.
***
On the deck of our room
We stayed at the Harbour Master Suites.
You can fish off the deck. For real.
The Forget-Me-Not is one of the top two hotel rooms in my life.
There was that time at the Waikiki Mile
where I was accidentally given Maria Mutola’s suite.
A room so awesome you don’t want to leave
even to get dinner or walk on the beach…
We left anyway.
***
Next door. The Black Dog
maybe the second best bar I’ve ever been in
that didn’t involve naked ladies.
I vacation like I am rich and so we had a very great time
even though it rained and the sun never shown
until check-out. Could’ve stayed forever but
we left anyway.
***
Entering our gated deed-restricted fifty-five and over golfing community,
am reminded of a metaphor which completely explains my neighbors:
They all decorate for Halloween
but they prohibit treat-or-treating.
***
Oh, the decorations.
Today, there are goblins & ghosts & witches
sharing space with harvest scarecrows and cornucopias
and suddenly Santa Claus and reindeer and mangers and Snoopy,
neon Baby Jesus, wreaths, trees, snowmen…
There must be a competition.
Biggest Electric Bill. Least Religious.
Most Visible From Outer Space.
By comparison, our place looks like a crack house.
Until the GIANT inflatable HUSKY dog
with the red ribbon and Santa’s helper hat
lights up like a star.
***
Good to be home.