100,004 Miles

We all have those moments, the ones I like the call the Oh Crap moments.  They are different than the Ah-ha moments which Oprah talks about in that the Oh Crap moments make you realize just how much something really did cost, how much work it took, or some other realization that doesn’t quite qualify as an ah-ha moment.

I had one of those moments to day when I looked down and realized the odometer on my car was about to hit 100,000 miles. I bought the car 4 years ago, yes, that’s 100,000 miles in 4 years.  That was my Oh Crap moment. While my parents were alive and aging, I took as good as care of them as I could from far away.  I lived 4.5-5.0 hours away and for a long time I was going to down to help them almost every weekend.  That is 500 miles round trip.  Every weekend almost, especially in the Spring when they were really busy.

One of the best investments I made was buying that car new, even though a new car depreciates as soon as you drive it off the floor…the reason is because I don’t think that many cars would have been so good to me and so easy to maintain.

The miles on the car reminds me of just how much I did take care of my parents and that there is truly nothing more I could have done for them  That is a good feeling. Several life times have been lived, loved and lost in that 100,004 miles on my car. And that is the miracle of life, it keeps going.

Adventures at the Compound

It has been the family homestead for many years.  And now it has passed on to the next generation. I had been down there before, but this time was different.  This time there was a joy to be where they were.  There was no sadness, no depression, no tears, only love.

And as I walked around the property, I felt it deep in my hart, that this is now mine.  They wanted it passed to us, they knew I would be the one to take care of everything. It is a right of passage, and it is one of love.

And so I walked around that wonderful, beautiful space and knew they were happy with it in my hands.  I take care of it, keep it up and sell it for the family. I know that they are smiling, I know that the butterflies, frogs, bees and dragonflies are their way of smiling to me. And so from here on out, it is only adventure and good times at the family compound.  Adventures are already starting in earnest, and will continue.

Yes, this time was different, as I am finally coming into my own in this place in the family. And that is an adventure all it’s own.

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