I am playing Edward Gerhard on acoustic guitar and Christmas music just came on but I will not skip past it because it's beautiful music.  As I listen my mind flashes images of baking cookies and wrapping Christmas gifts, the sounds of the family all gathered round in one small room; everyone hot and over dressed but soaking up memories.  Our families have come of age and we are, all of us well aware that the days are running by and the years we have left with the parents will be too few (my own are already gone).  So…as the Christmas music plays on so shall I go on.  Ahem…

I live a quiet and happy life in rural Ohio with my husband, Don.  We do, on occasion have an adventure here or sometimes there.  Today he is having an adventure here, he is out running on trails at Mohican State Park.  Tomorrow we will each have an adventure because he will once again run the trails and I will walk the paved park roads.  We are preparing for a grand adventure there in May, in New Jersey.  He is running a 24 hour race, he will get in 100 miles; I will be walking my first marathon.

I am 57 years old and I have discovered a few things since my birthday in January.  There are these wrinkles on my face, I wonder how they got there?  My hair is getting very, very thin and I am getting very, very wide!  I have severe Degenerative Disc Disease in my lower back ( a dramatic way of saying arthritis, call it what it is!) and that means I’ve got to move it or lose it.  You bet your bippy I’m moving it!  Every single day, because if I don't the pain is incredible and I am so happy that I can move it

I am a Christian and I will never cower or deny it.  Though I see all of the horrors and terrors there are in this world, I refuse to live a life of dower negativity.  There is always hope.