The Old Guy Rules

Tim (Stewart) Onstott says...
You remind me of a precious war horse I used to know. He could pull a plow from sunrise to sunset, but couldn't run a lick. This old horse was paired up with a sleek, fast race horse early in his life, and while they worked well together for awhile, the race horse soon got bored and moved into the fast lane. The strong plow horse continued to plod along at a firm, steady pace. Meanwhile the thorobred ran hard. He tried staying in the barn for a few years, but the influence of the odds makers and other seedy characters got him back on the track again. The two met up one time and promised to keep in touch, but the race horse was enjoying his second wind way too much and just lost focus. For the race horse, the pace has slowed to a mere walk, and he is now back in the barn realizing that the speed of the journey isn't near as important as the lives he touched (or missed) along the way. He enjoys watching his 4 colts and 1 filly run and play, and he prays that they choose the plow rather than whip. The plow horse however, has plodded along at his determined strong pace and is reaping the benefits of the strong foundation wrought from deep furrows he has dug. I suppose you could say they have gotten to pretty much the same point although through much different routes. The plow horse, direct strong and steady -albeit with one detour via California, and the race horse, running wild from one track to the next, have both found their peace in home and kids and loving wives. I am glad you are there, Trigger, and I am glad I found my old friend again.

Nancy says...
Jim,
I remember the day I took my little girl to college the first time. I was so proud and yet I cried the entire two and half hours home. We too had been very close and I had been the "parent." I remember rereading Kahlil Gabran's book, The Prophet, "Speak to Us of Children." I had done the best I knew how and I had to trust that she could take it from there on out. While that first trip changed our our lives as we had known them to that point, what came after has been nothing short of wonderful. When you think you can not love someone any more than you already do, each day you discover you had only brushed the surface. I alone and cried with joy and pride the day she walked across the stage to receive her college degree, and then again the day she left to begin her life in Texas. The day she married the man she loved, I walked her down the isle and gave her away. Almost two years ago she had my first grandchild, and I realized there is still greater love to be had. Our children are lives longing to be themselves and you and I my friend have learned to enjoy every step of the journey, knowing that it is the journey and not the destination that makes our lives what they are, blessed and full of love. Hanging in there it really does get easier.