Off and on deluges today have provided the perfect opportunity to sit around with the Command Staff (Sharon and Kai) and think about my age and circumstances and how they co-exist. The males in my lineage do not enjoy longevity, making me an exception to the early demise plague in the Johnson line. Still yet, I am having as much fun as is possible, seeing new things and enjoying new experiences. I would, however be less than candid if I failed to note things I miss in my life over the years.
In the outdoor world, I really miss the sound of the transom of a bass boat as it first slaps the water on an early Truman Lake morning. Arthritis and hand surgeries (4) have precluded the sound of a bass breaking water when hooked up or the gentile plop of a crappie jig in a promising spot. I recall with a smile a momma goose scolding us as we got the boat too close to her nest. I will never forget breakfast in a mom and pop restaurant with my fishing friends and the anticipation of a day on the water. I no longer burn wood, thus have sold my chainsaws and splitter. The scent of woodsmoke from an old stove should be bottled and sold as cologne. My hands have long ago negated the early morning summer rides on a motorcycle, catching the familiar smells of farm country where freshly turned earth and mowed hay offers the security we take for granted.
Honestly, I miss the feel and excitement of a Patrol Cruiser as you break 100 MPH in pursuit of a violator or handling some exigent circumstance requiring a police presence. An early breakfast and coffee stop in a local cafe, in uniform, always resulted in conversations with the locals who appreciated your presence, and I theirs. The sound of a jail cell door closing behind a miscreant, particularly a drunk driver, always made me smile.
I miss the drum of a big green tractor as you till a field or the sound of a barber apron snapped open before a haircut and catching up on the news of the day in banter with the barbers. Finally, I suspect I have seen my last pain free day, arthritis and surgical corrections of a recalcitrant shoulder remind me that I am deep into the “golden years”. Please do not consider my musings as complaints or regret at today’s existence. I am in the middle of a good run and thank the Lord for giving me what I prayed for as a young man. Our life is as good as it gets…..given my age and circumstance and I hope you can say the same.
Have a great week!
SR
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