One Way Ticket

(Well keep going east till we’re home)

Out of Shape and Elderly Shaped

From birth forward is a one-way ticket which we all share. As Jim Morrison of the Doors has said “no one gets out alive“. Since we all share in this one way reality, Louise and I thought that maybe we should continue posting on this blog site. Even though we have physically returned to Eau Claire our journey continues.

Does it make any sense to do this? What value could our words and ideas have? Louise and I both are considered elderly, but healthy. But even though, we feel close to the end of our life’s path. It is a journey without knowing the when or where of the disembarkment. So without judgment of the worth of some future words, we will begin and see what if anything develops.

I told Louise yesterday while sitting in the sunshine on outdoor stained backyard plastic chairs that if this day was the last day of my life that I would have no regrets concerning how those hours had been spent. Simple activities were enough, maybe because we had often been living complicated and somewhat challenging days for the past five months. Baking pumpkin pies, visiting a friend in rehab, a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, and walking our out of shape bodies on mother earth in Lowes Creek Park, and also watching a movie called Lion was our day. (Lion was about an adopted boy from India living in Tasmania, who searches to find his birth mother.).

I talked with my brother whose voice I had not heard since October. I also began reading the Elephant Whisperer. Both the movie and book were recommended somewhere along the way of our past months travels. Another movie, The Man Who Knew Infinity, we had watched the day prior. It was recommended by our Indian guide. Both films give insight into Indian/Hindu culture and European colonialism.

Louise has again gotten active with her sewing groups, exercising at the Y and working at the church thrift sale. These normal activities bring us joy.

May we live with gratitude and love, and once in a while, have beer enhanced contentment. A recipe for this starts with an overdose of sunshine, a glass of beer with foam and a small bowl of salted pretzels.

As we continue the journey, please comment on your own one-way ticket ride. We and other readers will benefit from your loving comments.

It’s good to be home again.

The Chippewa River outside Louise’s apartment
A candle on the mat purchased from a Massai woman
“The Kiss” is still on the wall
The Bounty at our fingertips.

6 responses to “Out of Shape and Elderly Shaped”

  1. yes- keep writing! Bobbie

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    1. your reflections touch me in so many ways. Glad to see you will continue to share your thoughts on this journey we’re all taking! Looking forward to the continued conversation.

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  2. The journey continues. Let’s keep sharing it! Love, Sarah

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  3. I have recently had a drastic change in my one-way life. I purchased a book on aging to help me with this time of life. It was a hard read and I didn’t like it. After getting permission from a friend, I stopped reading it. And today I find your wonderful thoughts on your one-way. Thank you and please keep sharing!💙

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  4. I would love to join the conversation on how travel, aging, and traveling while old changes a person.

    The element of surprise is present in both, and it is what makes travel and getting old most interesting. The kindness of strangers while traveling is a pleasant surprise, whereas the weirdness of staying the same weight yet having “extra” pop up on one’s body while aging is a less than pleasant surprise!

    Welcome back, you two!

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  5. Janeen LaBorde Avatar
    Janeen LaBorde

    I love this because the world is full of ugly and you’re bringing us beauty. Thank you.

    Janeen

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