By Lois E. Wilson
In the early years of our marriage and after we had children, my husband and I cherished our vacation times away from work. Our family enjoyed planning for vacations to refresh our souls and bodies.
Once we made a trip through eastern Canada and then over to Nova Scotia. As our sons married and settled in different states—that gave us incentives to visit. We drove across the country; we also went several times from Ohio to the west coast via Amtrak.
As our grandchildren grew, there were special times for other visits such as graduations and weddings. We always looked forward to all our trips.
Over the years we began to notice as we packed the car for a trip—its contents were slowly changing. It was hard to ignore. I once wrote this verse about the situation as we watched it develop:
A CHANGE OF CONDITION
Years ago when I went on vacation—it didn’t matter what destination. If you saw the gear crammed into my car, you’d have thought I was a sports superstar.
There were balls, bats, golf clubs and hiking boots, tennis rackets, snow skis, and swimming suits. Yes, those were the days of my derring-do.
Now I pack a blood pressure gauge and pills, heating pad and balm to assuage my ills—for these are my days of not-daring-to!
O.K. You caught me! I confess the skis were not mine. You know how we are apt to exaggerate as we age? I could picture speeding down the mountain on skis; but that was fantasy.
I believe if possible, one should never stop smiling or laughing at life and definitely never stop being willing to learn. They say, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
I can have the will to learn. But conditions tell me—I’m “not daring to” learn to ski. How about you? I compromise by watching the experts do it on TV. Every competition I am getting better at it. I haven’t fallen once. See you on the slope of reality!