Comfort in a foot

A few days ago the snow was falling almost to the point of being a white out the wind was whipping around the back patio creating some of the most interesting drifts I have seen in years, the house is warm the old red healer was laying next to my desk and I have Randy Grangers A place called peace” playing throughout the house probably a bit to loud. (Ok now I know it was to loud there was a complaint. People just do not understand the power of music only the volume.)

I am heading to Vegas in the morning glad now that the snow is all but gone for a few days in the office and then back to Lonesome Valley to load the trailer for a month on the road.

But that all starts tomorrow right now I’m sitting here rubbing old red dogs belly with my foot and looking through a few old year books that a dear friend was kind enough to loan me thinking about the past trying to catch up on this blog.

There are a number of reasons why I am slow to do much tonight other than look through old year books. I am taking hold of a past that in my case is sometimes so far away it offers nothing more than a few transitory glimpse.

Last year was by far one of the most interesting years of my life. In April I almost lost my life to illness. I refuse to dwell on it so it is not something I will talk about often but I am realizing that I am slower to recover than I had hoped for a year later. Last year I was dying I am now dying to live.

It is in these moments of truly understanding my mortality that these little snippets of the past stop by to remind me I am who I am is because of the roads I have chosen to travel and the opportunities I have been presented at every point in time that I have allowed myself to stop and take it in. With that comes the occasions for me to look at the lessons learned, not learned and flat out ignored that have shaped me for today.

I am again reminded and very aware of having a full and gratifying life. A life I choose to pursue. Some think that in my silence I am somewhat detached and when I am open and share stories of my travels and life I can be the life of the party, “The approachable yet distant teller of the tales” was the way I was described to me recently.

Of course I see it completely different I am again at a point in my life where I love to listen and not talking allows me to do that. While listening I learn. And it is more amazing to me now that it really does not matter what I am listening to.

Right now I am listening to the old red dogs breathing and the occasionally snore as he is entering the final aspect of his life. He’s old, about 93 in human years and I believe that he senses he is on the backside of his life. He likes to be with somebody all the time now. Just to get a few more belly rubs and treats. He is comforting me as much as I am here for his comfort. That in itself is a great lesson.

I know I am not the easiest person in the world to get along with Type AAA personality and all. I know your asking what are the extra A’s for well one is for sometimes being a complete a-#### and the other A is just to have in case I need it.

I have done exceptionally well over the years and never at the expense of others. I have never climbed over someone to get to the top and I have tried to never hurt anyone personally or professionally. Not my style and not a good way to go through life. John Mellncamp said in a song years ago “an honest mans pillow is his peace of mind”
In business, I would rather, and have been known to help my competition in the past; it creates a more lively challenge not to mention it makes me strive to be my very best every day.
In my personal life I have made mistakes like we all have and I have learned from each broken heart and missed friend or loved one.

A good friend called me a renaissance man the other day it is not the first time I have been called a polymath and to be honest I like it. That is not ego bursting out it is a simple truth. There is, as there always is with me a story behind this.

But that will come a bit later.

Be well my friends and fellow travelers

Kevin