Back in the saddle again

It was dark when I got up. I’d been awake for an hour or so. Sleep wouldn’t return. As I put the water on for coffee, I could hear crows making a ruckus in the pine across the street. No other birds this morning. The window above the sink was open and the cool night air drifted in, across my face. The night had been stuffy; the breeze felt good. It would get hot later.

We sold Atticus yesterday. It is still in the driveway, but it will belong to someone else. They should pick it up at the weekend if plans go accordingly. We couldn’t manage it any longer. It was beyond what we could do.

Selling the bus seems like the end of a significant part of our lives. We love to travel and explore, and parting with Atticus feels like that part of our lives is coming to an end. The adventures we’ve had; the difficulties faced and solved on the road built an understanding, respect, and trust for each other we could not have found staying at home. Travel has been the forge and anvil of our life together.

I don’t want to be maudlin. We had good times in every Atticus we owned. Life changes things. Life changes us. Looking back with regret is living in the past. It feels like we’ve closed many doors lately, our choices diminishing with our physical abilities. No use to dwell on it.

Rather, what now? What do we do if we refuse to be minimized?

I think we find a new way, a new road. We are learning to do things differently, and that is not always easy. Accepting limitation never is, but we continue. We don’t have the bus anymore but, we have a plan. We need to make a trip. We need to get back on the road somehow. Back in the saddle, again (thank you Gene). Anything else would-be giving in.  That would be the easy way, but not the cowboy way.  (Thank you, Riders.  How could I grow up in the 1950’s and not relate to this expression? In my heart I still wear boots and spurs)

Saddle up! We’re on the road.

Blessings

The Road