So in the land of “having way too much time on my hands” I decided to add up the digits of this year and the year to come and ended up with the title…then I looked up the significance of those numbers and this immediately came up “Both Sevens and Eights are extremely strong willed and independent and so both resist being controlled by the other” (it’s as if some A.I. algorithm put in Sue and I when I searched that significance if you add up the digits of our birth years, both end up in the digit 7)

Honestly it means nothing since I’m no more a believer in numerology than I am in catholicism (though the latter has given me far more scars than the former) but it was just something I was trying to get to spur some creative words. I’ve had many fragmented thoughts over the past few weeks but have almost felt blocked for something worth putting out. (That said, it’s not as if there are legions of readers hanging on my every effort or waiting for the next “edition” as they would be for the next Donna Tart book)

More often than not, these expositions are just ways to ramble on and to converse with the universe, and I suspect, as I am currently engaged in true stream of consciousness (eternal thanks to Bob Baisley in 10th grade for introducing that phrase to me), that this will end up that way when I hit the publish button, but here goes.

I feel like it’s necessary to spend some time at almost year end thinking back on what has gone one this year and what upcoming looks like. Perhaps it’s my way of asking the train headed to the station “When all is said and done” to slow down and maybe even take an extended refueling break on the way, maybe it’s just self important silliness. It’s been both a relaxing (how can retirement not be you ask…) and fun filled year. We spent time with friends and family last year, drinking, dining, laughing etc, I got to spend a few days with my son, daughter in law, and grand daughters at their home doing all kinds of fun (if incredibly frenetic) activities) and also being able to spend some time with my daughter, son in law and fourth granddaughter. An epic trip to Paso Robles with some of those same friends ending in Carmel By The Sea and then just recently two days at the Biltmore in Ashville. Our community pool finally opened and both Sue and I returned to lap swimming which we both loved, I managed 37 days in a row and only missed 3 days total before it ended up closing down (it’s unheated) for the season (the last week or so it was incredibly cold but kinda fun). Sue has managed to keep up a few days a week in the town pool, I’ve not felt the pull to drive to swim when I was so used to simply strolling down to do my laps.

Lately, the leg I hurt playing golf almost two years ago when I slipped and slammed it into the side of the cart while getting in started to hurt. I saw an orthopedist yesterday who said there was no residual damage, but the bad news was the arthritis that caused my hip replacements back in ’09, ’10 has now taken hold of my feet (part of that is the genetic “blessing” of having flat feet). Unlike the hips which were surgically reparable, not so much with the feet, however the “good news” such that it is, is that custom orthotic inserts should ameliorate much of it.

That brings me back to the “train” and it’s forward motion…the good news is that if that is the worst of the news then I need to just smile and laugh about it, the bad news is the psychological jolts of what “getting old” means and while I still see 19 in the mirrror, the harsh reality is that I have trouble opening jars, driving in the dusk (even with the improved eyes from the almost two year old cataract surgery), and yes the continuing progression of the arthritis.

Tonight I will raise a glass (or two or three) to all the loved ones lost recently and those who have been gone a while, this season always brings back wonderful memories and also I find myself frequently saying “Wow, _____(fill in the blank) would have loved this”

Well…I guess I’ve waded in this particular “stream” long enough for now..time to take a stroll with Abbey THE dog.

We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne