I check my watch – running behind as usual… not the watch, me. I knew my fiancée would be patiently waiting for me… thinking, “He’s late again!” Back then, as a 20-something whirlwind of a youngster, I was barley in control of my own comings and goings – never mind adding someone else into my world of craziness.
I was livin’ to run and running to live,
Never worried about payin’ or even how much I owe.
~ Against the Wind, by Bob Seger
As I drove on, pressed against time, I was already preparing my defense. In my head, I saw myself in a TV courtroom pleading my own case like a seasoned lawyer, “Members of the jury, here stands an innocent man!” It didn’t work. And, when I heard the car door slamming shut – like the sound of a judge’s gavel banging down – I knew sentencing was about to begin.
“I told her someday if she was my girl, I could change the world,
With my little songs, I was wrong.”
~ She Believes in Me by Kenny Rogers
But, ‘things can change’, and the day I realized that I was maturing, happened the day I heard my wife say, “This is a first… you’re finally on time!” I also knew that, for years, I’d been treating her last… when really, she was first in my life. I mean, without her where would I be? – nowhere.
“But she has faith in me…
And who knows maybe on some special night, if my song is right
I will find a way, while she waits for me.”
~ She Believes in Me by Kenny Rogers
Recently, a middle-aged friend asked me what I do “with all my time” – since taking early retirement. I had to explain to him that, where once it was all about me, our family, and my career… it was now “we” instead of “me.” Like an old bit of African wisdom says, “If you go by yourself, you’ll go faster; if you go together, you’ll go further. And, we have gone further, at least for us: including trips to Italy and Portugal, in one year.
“Why don’t we take off alone
Take a trip somewhere far, far away
We’ll be together all alone again
Like we used to in the early days
~ (Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon
Also, from our downtown perch – since downsizing – we’ve taken up biking, exploratory walks, yoga, pilates… even ballroom dancing. Plus, I started running again. Now, with all this activity you’d think we’d lose lots of weight. Not true! – along the way, we’ve discovered dozens of coffee shops, bistros and other hot spots… all featuring their own special treats. Maybe, that’s why my bathroom scales won’t go any lower.
Yet, we figure this is the time to make the most of our lives together – not waiting until health prevents us. So, when someone else asks what we’re up to these days, I’ll just look at my watch… smile and say… nothing much!
Image Credits
Feature photo is pixabay creative commons
Guest Author Bio
Fred Parry
Fred Parry lives in Southern Ontario. He is a lover of people and a collector of stories, music, wisdom, and grandchildren. His newspaper column, Music in Me, can be found in ‘The New Hamburg Independent’ Metroland Media. His book, ‘The Music In Me’ (2013) Friesen Press is Available from Amazon and Indigo / Chapters.
Blog / Website: www.fredparry.ca
Recent Guest Author Articles:
- Safely Enhance Your Nursing Career with Upskilling and Fresh Employment Opportunities
- Why Part-Time and Freelance Roles Can Be More Secure Than Traditional Jobs
- Essential Skills for Managing Health Challenges as You Age
- The Development of the Contemporary Sofa in Atlanta: Amalgamating Aesthetics, Comfort, and Practicality
- Creating the Perfect Backyard Sanctuary for Both Humans and Nature
Please Share Your Thoughts - Leave A Comment!