2023... A year of contrasts

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”  ― Charles Dickens

As the Dickens quote outlines, this has been a VERY eventful year for us, in a number of ways.  Let's start with the best of times, which includes the variety of housesits we enjoyed across the country... 

Starting in Oklahoma City (check out the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum); Normal IL
(visit Carl's for an authentic Horseshoe sandwich... Toasted bread, hamburger patty, French fries and topped off with cheese sauce!); West Chester PA (gotta go to Shady Maple for the LARGEST Amish smorgasbord in the US); Buffalo NY (visit Anchor Bar, home of the original Buffalo Wings); Woodbury TN (the rolling morning fog, contrasted by picture perfect sunsets!); Nolensville TN (Monell’s Restaurant in Nashville - family styled meals at group tables - with unending refills!); Ashville NC (no trip there is complete without a visit to The Biltmore Estate -  the largest privately owned house in the United States with 250 rooms!) and Sun Prairie WI (visit the largest producers-only Farmers Market in the US in Madison).

The best of times also included the birth of our newest grandson, Oliver, a heartwarming and fun filled family picnic/reunion with family, several in-person visits with cherished family and friends, an opportunity to share and explain our nomadic lifestyle in a group presentation, Zoom cocktail hours with friends, and many peaceful moments of delight as we've traveled.

We've also had lots of quality time with some of our grandkids, playing games on the floor, making
waffles with artful blueberry toppings, and swimming in the pool with a family of rubber duckies - the interplay has truly revitalized our perspectives and approach as children often do for their elders. We love our time with them and deeply miss those we didn't get to see this year.

November and December took us back to Illinois for a series of maintenance doctor and dentist appointments (as we journey into the 3rd quarter of life it is ever more evident that we must stay focused on health - 'cause we got a lot more country to cross and sites to be seen!). Also, we have needed to address paperwork and other 'regular things' that still have their roots in Illinois for us until we decide on a new location for our "forever home."

In contrast, the worst of times has included sadness and concern as both our mothers move further into
dementia - a cruel and debilitating disease that has no cure and gradually shifts the role of caretaking from parent to child.  One bright spot is that we've had some enlightening conversations with each as they reflect on their childhood with vivid recall (yet can't remember what they had for dinner last night). 

This year also included a devastating car accident for one of our daughters with lasting repercussions and an emergency surgery for our other daughter during which she literally died twice on the operating table, later spending 3 days in intensive care. Scary stuff which both are working through the details of, but a miracle of life because each is blessed to be able to do the work. On other fronts, good friends lost their son to the cruel reality of drugs, many family and friends have had surgeries, injuries, and worst of all, contracted life debilitating diseases-tough stuff. The effects from all these situations seem to stubbornly linger for so many we love.  We get the impression that this year has left many people in our lives with 'warning tickets.'

And... annually we take a "TimeOut" to reflect on the year and plan for the next... as you might deduce from the summary above - we've had lots of new ingredients with which to cook up a new recipe for 2024!

A book that Jer recently read ("Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder" by Chip Conley) has
offered a new paradigm for us to consider: "Stewardship... The older you are, the more you recognize your small place on the planet . But the more you also want to put your lifetime of experience and perspective to work to positively impact future generations." For us, it presents a refreshing approach to "eldering," a process by which we can cross-pollinate our widespread insights and "life hacks" with younger professionals while remaining relevant by learning from them as well. 

Chip concludes the book with  poem by John O'Donohue that speaks to both our souls and has reinspired us to continue our Next Grand Adventure with a renewed sense of joy going into 2024... 

FOR A NEW BEGINNING 

In out-of-the-way places of the heart, 
Where your thoughts never think to wander, 
This beginning has been quietly forming, 
Waiting until you were ready to emerge. 
For a long time it has watched your desire, 
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, 
Noticing how you willed yourself on, 
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. 
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered, 
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent, 
Wondered would you always live like this. 
Then the delight, when your courage kindled, 
And out you stepped onto new ground, 
Your eyes young again with energy and dream, 
A path of plenitude opening before you. 
Though your destination is not yet clear 
You can trust the promise of this opening; 
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning 
That is at one with your life’s desire. 
Awaken your spirit to adventure; 
Hold nothing back, 
learn to find ease in risk; 
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, 
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.