By Staff
Is it past time to grow that scraggly beard, don a slick, black leather jacket, straddle a big Harley-Davidson and begin a month-long ride along old Route 66?
You'd likely stop all along the way at many a "one-gas-station, one-cafe" crossroads. You'd read the unfamiliar names of the small, long-forgotten villages that have faded with time, given away to the bypassing, replacing, interstate monster four-lanes, creating those often referred to "ghost towns."
You would want to spend a little time at each stop, letting thoughts of what you picture as how it used to be slide across your mind. Then you'd journey on down the old, worn and potted pavement of this long-ago major cross-country drive.
Take your time
You don't speed, not even to the posted limit. You want to take in the signs of time, things you have never before looked upon, nor probably never will again. Maybe you're alone. Maybe a friend who is trying to edge in some longtime dreams of his own is riding his wonder bike along with you.
And then, is it past time to jet across the seas to take in the wonders of the far-way land you have hoped to see during this life?
The great wall of China, the snow-capped peak of Mount Everest, the fishing fleets of Norway, Big Ben, Paris, Jerusalem, the dikes of Holland and the boat on the canals of Venice?
Then, pull down the visor on your helmet as you sit at the controls of your supersonic jet fighter and take off, en route to a dogfight with an enemy who is endangering your beloved country.
Later, let's ride alongside Jeff Gordon in a two-seater race car, leading in the Indianapolis 500.
Maybe we should slow down now.
Here we are, standing alongside Barbara Streisand, singing backup for her on the stage of the Metropolitan.
Is it too late to learn to play the classics on the piano,replacing either Ferrante or Teicher?
Most of us senior citizens are too far down the road of life to attempt something new of such magnitude as aforementioned
Here we are. Had a good life?
After a few seconds of meditationyes! a majority prevails.
But, still, " I wish I could do that."
Yes, you've likely done things in your lifetime that many people wish they would have a had a chance to do. Exactly whatwho knows, since we know not each others minds, accomplishments nor secret desires.
Some say the power is thereif only we had the mental strength to uncap it the ability to levitate to ward off gravity and lift off an begin bodily flight.
Just think about rising above the tree tops, going sailing near the peaks of snow-topped mountains; to slowly glide above the beautiful fields of swirling, golden grain of the Midwest, skimming the tops of the spruce trees as you look down on the cold,crystal waters of mountain streams, bubbling and rushing across the stone-filled creek beds of Colorado.
We unhook from our tow plane and guide our single-place glider to ride the updrafts of wind in the mountainous terrain of the west.
Let's sign on the old sailing ship and weather the rolling seas as we travel the life of an old salt, journeying around the Horn of South America.
Could you have been an Olympic swimmer like Mark Spitz? Personally, I could have been on the Senior PGA golf tour if I had known what the word "golf" meant back in my early years.
How about authoring a best-selling novel? Is there time?
Well, let's stop dreaming right here and think about all of those good, and sometimes great, things we've seen or done. Also, let's consider, with health allowing, what is still available and possible for us to enjoy in these latter years of earthly life.
Most of us have raised a family, got the kids schooled and sent out into the world to make it on their own.
Now blessed grandchildren! This time around, we will likely spoil them rotten by trying to give them anything they want, things that their parents haven't come up with, and likely want them to not have anyway.
For the retired of us, we can have all of that great fun of maintaining our yards, something we might have hired out during those many years of employed life.
Men, what about a little shop building out back? A place we can piddle with some wood and attempt other craft projects. We'll probably spend a fortune on tools and machinery, most that we'll never use. It'll take us a week to build a simple, little birdhouse, which, if we placed a dollar value on, would cost about a $i00. But, let's face it. No decent sparrow would gibe it a second look as being a home for its offspring. It'll likely end up being a nest for wasps or spiders.
Back to reality
If I ever travel old Route 66, it will probably be in the comfort of a Tour bus.
My supersonic jet flight will likely be on a commercial turbo-prop, puddle -jumper airliner out of Meridian to Atlanta.
I might get to sing in the church choir and possibly be allowed to press the button to turn on the electronic keyboard piano.
Sailing ship? Positively no way, what with all those days of sea sickness going to and from overseas while in the military.
Golf. Yes. I've peaked out in the lower 80's. I hear that the correct title for me, rather than a PGA professional, is "duffer."
With appreciation to The Meridian Star, my civilian writing has been limited to a few hometown articles.
Yes, we seniors still have dreams and fantasies during these latter years of our lives.
Nonetheless, I will continue to hold on to "GEE! I wish I could do that!"