Arrived home after exhausting drive- left washington friday afternoon and got in des Moines at 5 pm monday. Bob is a real champ for doing the long drive- he has to head back friday to be there for a Open house on a construction project he just finished-
he built some condos in Bellingham.
its going be a real pain to avoid driving for 6 months. i have dr appt today and i suspect i will have some follow up tests sometime soon.
Art --
ReplyDeleteWhile I cannot speak for all of your friends, I can pretend to. Glad you made it back from the Great North Woods intact. You're certainly right about Bob being a Champ. In just the past couple of years, I'm coming to realize how tragically much I've missed and lost in this life by NOT having had a supportive family. Gaze upon my ruination and learn -- and count your blessings, which I'm sure you do.
Speaking for all the good people in your life, I can say only how sorry I/we are that your first trip out got cut short in this way -- and how helpless we/I feel at not being about to wave some magic wand to make it all better. However, everyone who knows Art Dunbar knows him to be an inspiringly hardy soul, not merely because of the Scottish blood and the Pioneer Spirit, but because of whom you've taught yourself to become.
Hang in there. Don't let the bastards get you down (the title of Dan Rather's first book, in the 1970's?)-- even when the bastards seem to be godlike. But you already know all this and have told it to yourself hourly. So just keep on doing what Art Dunbar would do if he were in your place.
Ecclesiastes 9:16 (KJV),
Galen (as Robin Starveling)
P.S.
Here's to a new pacemaker battery and a hundred thousand more miles of travels with Ol' Blue!!!
POEMS, PRAYERS & PROMISES
ReplyDelete(as sung by John Denver)
I've been lately thinking
about my life's time
all the things I've done
and how it's been,
and I can't help believin'
in my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end.
I've seen a lot of sunshine
slept out in the rain
spent a night or two all on my own
I've known my lady's pleasures
had myself some friends
spent a time or two in my own home.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady
sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in,
how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care,
how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow
and what about our dreams
and all the memories we share,
Days they pass so quickly now,
the nights are seldom long
time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes somehow frightens me,
still I have to smile
it turns me on to think of growing old.
For tho' my life's been good to me
there's still so much to do
so many things my mind has never known
I'd like to raise a family
I'd like to sail away
and dance across the mountains on the moon.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire
and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady
sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in,
how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care,
how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow
what about our dreams
and all the memories we share
Art, I had not checked your blog for a while, so did not know about your seizure. I am so sorry that your trip was cut short, but so glad that it happened when you had family near by to help.
ReplyDeleteNot being able to drive for a while will change your plans. However, one of America's best-kept secrets is its thriving industry in bus tours. Don't laugh - you should check it out.
Talk to you soon.
Kay
Art --
ReplyDeleteJust read Kay's comment. I concur wholly with every detail of what she said. In particular, I believe she's hit upon a worthwhile insight regarding bus tours. I'm most immediately reminded of the fact that both Marie & Rick have had fine experiences with both bus tours and train (mostly AMTRAK) "tours." (We're talking charter, not Greyhound.)
I'm serious. If I were in your unenviable shoes I'd consider googling for all manner of brouchures. Myself, I'd probably be drawn to historical landmarks, theme parks and Civil War enactment type venues. Let me know what you think. (I don't think I'd want to be overly far from civilization -- hospitals, cell phone towers, etc.)
Later,
Galen
P.S. I got the dispatcher position. Began "training" this morning. It helped that nobody else wanted it. Wish me luck. /gg