The Road of Life

The following was written on August 25, but is being posted today.

Sometime, it feels good to start writing without having any idea where the process will lead. That is the case today as I sit on a plane starting the vacation part of a two week vacation. The vacation "officially" started a week agon but it was an unsuccessful beginning as work (a few hours each day) and family (a few hours each of the last few days as part of the search team for Michael, Al's dog).

As we cruise along at 37,000 feet above the earth, looking down on wispy clouds and then billowing white cotton puffs, I realize that I have no understanding of how far up we really are nor am I sure that it matters for the goals are safe take-offs and safer landings. In this situation, the importance of where and how you start is more important than the journey. However, in most situations, I believe (and always advise my children) that the journey is the key element of any trip and this includes the trip of life. We all know where life begins (give or take a few months depending on how one answers "when does life begin") and that life will end (at least this life depending on one's thoughts about reincarnation and afterlifes) so the question is how one will take life's journey, but this has been written about more eloquently than I will be able to do (read for example, The Dash) so I will leave this topic for now after one more thought.

Life is Like a Road

The road of life was created
With techniques we will never understand
Seemingly endless it stretches out before us
As we try to look ahead and make a life travel plan.

But the plan is not always easy to make
For life is not laid out for Google or MapQuest
Or with available guides showing alternative routes
All we can do is read the signs that we see and do our best.