In my last article, I talked about aches and pains, what they may be telling us, what they were telling me, and what we could do to help the inevitability of the journey, relieving some of the pressure that comes from it.  All very important things for our families.  Now that I have had my surgery, it’s time to give you an update on my event.  I’m still here and writing to you so I made it.  Although, I did not plan on anything else.

The way I feel today, I think I will be back to “normal” in a few months.  This normal will not be as I was at 20 years old, nor how I was at 40 years old.  But it will be, I hope, the way I was last year.  I call that success.  And there is more they can do if I need it down the road.

So, I can tell you that I’m doing okay.  I hope that all of you out there are okay.  And life goes on as it always does.  However, no sighs of relief yet, because I learned throughout this experience that there is another avenue of thought that should be brought up to those climbing the ladder of life.

Just as those wills, directives, and instructions to your children should be made as soon as possible, (see my last article) so should everyone try to do those things that they have always wanted to do.  Like a bucket list?  You can call it that or maybe anything you have put off that you may have forgotten in years since you were young.  Or just thought you could never achieve because of various circumstances.

I have always loved to read and write.  I wrote opinion letters to this paper back in the 70s concerning several issues.  The two issues that I thought were most important then were the closing of Spring Lake and the removal of school windows.  Following those years, with success in what I wanted to accomplish, I gave that up.  But then I began again after an additional 50 years, this time attempting to give readers some thoughts to chew over as life events began to bleed into our personal and social communications.  After all, I had written before, had written some poetry and had always thought about writing a book.

So, about seven years ago, before the articles began, I decided I had to at least write one book.  It took a long time for me to get up the courage to do so.  I procrastinated so much on it at first, I thought I’d never get anything done.  I had one chapter written quickly and the rest was fighting me.  Telling me I couldn’t do it.  I finally buckled down and began to write.  A preface, a few more chapters, then onto the back burner again.  After a few more spurts like this, it was done.  I guess it took me about a year to write and six to stall.

That was in February of this year.  I felt it time to write letters to the editor in earnest.  Trying to keep to a schedule that would suit me.  So far, I’m doing pretty good.  Then my back issue came up and I began to think about the things that would need to be done in case it turned out different.  I thought about the two others books I had ideas for.  Those were as important as all the rest I had been contemplating.  I really wanted to stick around and get these things done.  It was my bucket list of sorts.

This does not mean, however, that I wanted to stick around in this world just for these reasons.  No, I have great children and spouses, wonderful grandchildren, and a sister who has just moved back to town after being away over 50 years.  These are my main reasons for staying and this will never change.  Yet, when there is that desire to do more because you know you have it in you, that wanting to leave something more to the world than just your presence, then what are you waiting for?

This is what I want to say to every one of you.  Young or old.  Those just beginning life as an adult or who have experienced a lot.  It’s never too late to write your thoughts down and share them.  It’s never too late to break into song.  To volunteer your time to something you feel is important to your life.  To take those trips and see those things you have always wanted to.  It will be someday.  But, for now, you have all the time in the world.

“Can I write that book?”, should be instead, “Why can’t I write that book?”  “My voice is not melodious.”, should be, “I am going to tape myself singing so that my family can hear me.”  Sometimes it’s not the melody that carries the intent, but the words in the song, and the way you express them.  “I would like to volunteer.”, should be, “I will volunteer.”

As those aches and pains show up, or those life hurdles hit you square in the face, be prepared to use these ‘bumps’ in the road to your advantage.  Be prepared to say, “Now that I’m over that hurdle or faced with that new one, let’s begin to show them who I am.”  And the beauty of this is that whether they like you or not, whether they agree or not, whether they believe in you or not, it just doesn’t matter.  Because there is only one thing for certain, you will make that difference because they heard you.  And never forget, one of the many reasons this is possible is your American Democratic heritage.