Bob, at 68…

I was out working on Evan’s canoe this morning and began reflecting on ‘Bob.’  It seems like I spend a fair amount of time on ‘introspection’ these days…

If anything I would describe ‘Bob’ as ‘one big kid’ today.  A big kid with a big heart, still struggling with ‘unfounded fears.’  But those fears are subsiding.   Ever so slowly, they are subsiding… and I think they call this ‘progress.’

I enjoy laughing.  And I enjoy creating laughter in others.  If I call to order something or another from a ‘1-800’ number and I leave the ‘sales associate’ laughing, then my heart is warm.

I would describe my humor as witty, dry, sophisticated and clever.  I just don’t like to tell jokes – I love ‘inserting’ either myself, or my friends into them, to give them more ‘believability.’  Then I love to watch you as you discover the ‘delight’ in my story!  These jokes then, tend to stay with folks longer…

I also love ‘playing with people’s minds.’  Not cruel mind ‘games,’ mind you – but saying things that challenge you.  For in challenging you, when you engage, it challenges me – and I have yet so much to learn.  So, bring your “A-Game” when you come to play with me!  Keep it light-hearted, and keep it fun.

I enjoy building things – working with my hands – “creating something from nothing.”  I always have.  Whether it be a ‘small business,’ or a piece of furniture or a canoe, I just like building things.  In my “before Life,” as an “Adult,” I would build things and see a “flaw” in them.  I couldn’t live with those flaws, so I would take what-ever out back and destroy it – because it wasn’t “perfect.”  I don’t do that today; today I embrace my flaws, for they have helped me learn.  And, in the final analysis, isn’t God the only Perfect One?

I ventured into “Adulthood” for a while (for maybe 35 years or so), and hated it!  I felt as if I had to be everything others “expected” of me.  The only way I coped was by drinking because I didn’t have the ‘Life Skills” to deal with Life on Life’s terms.  And I excelled at drinking!  (Joe once told me, “Bob, if you ever were to back to drinking, let me know.  You were a fricking riot when you were ‘lit.'”  Well, he’s gonna have to wait; I don’t ever want to go ‘back there.’)  Anyway, before I digressed – in the process of being an ‘Adult,’ I lost my way.  Yes, I loved “what I was” – the ‘go-to-Hell Fighter Pilot;’ while inside I hated “who I was.”  Today it’s just the opposite – although I don’t hate what I was; I just don’t think of it as that big of a deal anymore…

In ‘Adulthood” I had some success, and some ‘failures.’  In my ‘professional’ career (flying) all my landings equaled my takeoffs, and that’s good.  (Baseball players are considered “great” if they hold a lifetime .333 batting average.  Aviators on the other hand, are held to higher standards.  (LOL)  Anything less than a 1.000 landing average would not be good.)

In my personal life I gave myself some real challenges.  But, day-by-day I have met these challenges head on, and will continue to do so.  And I am delighted to report, I am making progress!

“Delight” – another word I like these days.  When folks drive by my house, it looks like any other house on the street.  It’s only when you stop in, and begin to have a look around that you “discover things.”  Things that will bring you “delight.”  And that is my objective in working around the place – to create an environment of “delight.”

Although I do not attend church, God is very prevalent in my Life.  He never gave up on me, when I gave up on myself – and I am so grateful…

This is but a ‘snapshot’ of me this morning, of “where I am today.”  Living a Life of gratitude, humility, and delight – sprinkled with playful mischief upon occasion…

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