Middle Age Plus

The wheels are still turning

Going places and doing things used to be a high priority in my life. If something was going on somewhere, I wanted to be there to experience it. When I was a child, the neighbors thought I was a fixture in the family car. Everytime it left our farm, there I was in the back seat, eagerly looking out the window to see where we were going this time. I used to beg my brother Ralph to let me ride along when he drove over to Hyattsville, Md., to pick up his date (and future wife) to bring her back to our house in Washington, for a family dinner. Usually he let me come along, but never would let me go when he was taking her home afterwards.

When I got to the age where I could drive myself, or when my sister Ellen was old enough, we would find any excuse to go to town, drive over to the Kafer's to see if Joyce could come spend the night, or just explore the country. This was the most fun in the early fall when we would go over the state line into Kansas and drive up and down the country roads that were lined with sunflowers.

I enjoyed our home, I had fun with our family, but it was great fun to get out and go places.

I still am getting out and going places quite often. I go to book signings, speaking engagements where I get a chance to also sell my books, and I visit family members, even those half way across the nation. I do all these things but I don't look forward to it as much as I used to. The day before one of my outings I think of all I could be doing if I stayed right here at home. As I am choosing my clothes I longingly think of my old jeans that have a seam about to give out. Of course I can't take them, but they are very comfortable.

My lack of eagerness stays with me as I get up early the next morning. When I feed the cats I give them an extra petting because I will be gone. I try to leave all the dishes done, the beds made (unless Lester is still asleep in ours), and most of the clothes picked up and put away. I always have the thought that maybe someone else will need to come into the house while I am gone, so I don't want too many messes left around.

When I take my suitcase and/or the boxes of books to the car, suddenly my mood changes. I begin to anticipate the event I am driving toward. I think of either the quickest, or the most interesting way to get there, and I am off.

A stop for a senior Dr. Pepper at a drive-through window completes my preparations as I tune the car radio to KRPS and get my cell phone out where it will be handy if I need it.

If I am traveling alone I spend my time listening to the radio and thinking about the people I will be seeing. I no longer worry about my presentation because I have given it so many times it is as easy as talking to a friend on the phone. Once I have decided on what I will choose to read, the rest just falls in place.

When I have company on my trips we talk about the place and people where we are heading and then drift off into other topics. Either way, we have a nice time.

So even though I am middle age plus, and home looks awfully good to me, I still look for possibilities that take me on the road again.

Have books. Will travel.