“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
- John Lennon
- John Lennon
I leave the following evening and Mia lends me her GPS so I can get down the mountain in the dark. I have a tendency to get lost; physically, spiritually, mentally—you name it. Seems I’ve been having a hard time finding my way these days, my sea legs are off kilter and I can’t tell my right foot from my left. In fact, I can’t remember the last time my feet were firmly planted on the ground.
I feel I have failed in many ways, missed the boat, and danced to the beat of my own long-distant drum for far too long. I’ve always been romantically challenged, holding out for that damned “Prince Charming” (damn those goddam fairy tales), who will take me away from all this (all of what, I am not sure). I never quite know where I’m supposed to leave my size 9 plus pumps at the ball. If I did, who would return them to me? And of course at every turn, every buffet table at the ball, I am chasing down the “wrong” men ….blah, blah, blah. OK so, even though my panic button over turning 40….-something has been blasting loud and clear for sometime now. I optimistically tell myself that my middle-aged prince is out there somewhere…he has to be…right? Besides 40 is the new 20 (alright, I know I’m pushing the Splenda envelope on that one) but a girl’s still gotta be able to dream, right?
Some may say that I am old and tired, but I’m not buying the farm yet, No Siree Bob! I look at it this way, at least I’m not living with a houseful of cats (I have nothing against CATS….except the musical of course). I’m more of a dog person. Which I must say comes with some perks and added bonuses. It is documented that being a dog owner helps with depression, blood pressure and winter SADS. OK, maybe it’s not all documented. However, I find being a dog owner gets one out into the environment, facing all elements. There is nothing like strapping a hound on a leash after a summer’s storm has cleared and cooled the air. Amazingly, yesterday’s scents have changed. The same path you were just on yesterday is awash with new and exciting possibilities. If only we human folk could use a summer storm to refresh our lives.
At present my two housemates are Knox and Hunter, my 70-something pound hounds. Hunter is a 16-year-old chocolate Lab who, lately, constantly reminds me of what life may be like in the old folks home if I don’t find someone nice to take care of me. Knox is the baby. He was born, or so they say, around Cinco de Mayo (which is always a grand time for a celebration!) and he does have a flair for spicy food, well any food to be honest, but he does like it hot. He hails from Tennessee; hence my niece Sarah named him Knox. He is now entering his sixth year. He is a midnight magical black mixed breed, with white hairs already surfacing about his jaw line, reminding me of how quickly the years can pass.
I seem to have digressed again (another one of my many dys-centric issues, and another key reason for the gift of the GPS). I lose track so easily. So many thoughts attack my brain in any given moment that I’m not sure where to focus. Of course, the sprinkling of ADD doesn’t help the situation. So where was I? Oh yes, Mia gave me her GPS. I give hugs and kisses and, I say my goodbyes. I get in the car and program my destination (there truly is no place like home) and hit start. The voice of Sabrina is the name given to the GPS lady by Mia’s sister Christie, as Sabrina is the name of her husband’s imaginary girlfriend. All I can think of is the teenage witch. Sabrina is calm and welcoming and I realize that in all my years of heading down this hill towards home, this is the first time my blood doesn’t begin to boil for fear of veering off my path, making the wrong turn, ending up God knows where and arriving home around dawn. I don’t have to think, I don’t have to do anything……I am not alone. I have Sabrina and together we begin our
journey.
