Leaving 2021. Me and Jesus driving down the interstate.

I've been lately thinking about my life's time. All the things I've done, how it's been. And I can't help believing in my own mind. I know I'm gonna hate to see it end....John Denver.

New Year's Eve found me driving down the interstate on my way To watch the Alabama semi final playoff game with a childhood friend. It also gave me the chance to reflect on life and have a little talk with Jesus. I used to do a year end walk in my young adult day's. Walk in the woods and think about life. Pray and meditate about the regrets and experience of the past year and my hopes for the coming year. I think from around 1978 or so through most of the 80's this was my annual tradition. Somewhere in the 90's life got easier then more hectic and my traditional walk wasn't always as easy to complete.

So here I was with about a 1&1\2 to 2 hour drive ahead of me. So in light holiday traffic I eased over in the far right lane turned off the radio and started my review and talk with the source of my sanity and my life. I won't go into personal detail because as a wise woman once said to me "Steve, some things you don't discuss with anybody except God."

I'm now 64 years old. I look in the mirror expecting to see the long haired hazel eyed smooth cheeked young man of my late teens and early 20's looking back at me. instead I see this balding fat little old dude and it's hard for me to comprehend.  Not impossible. Just a little weird.

Last year more and more people retreated to their echo chambers. They took a stand! If you call being fed propaganda by Tucker Carlson or Rachel Maddow  or Whoppi Goldberg or Margery Taylor Green taking a stand. My friend proudly announced he only listens or gets news from Breitbart. I have other facebook friend who thinks Chris Cuamo is legitimate as a news source. No wonder liberals and conservatives stay so mad at each other all the time.

So me and Jesus let the political crap alone. It's a nice ride. We talk about free will, death, God, sex, loved ones both here and on the flipside, my concerns for my teenage son and if my mileage worn tires are going to survive the trip from Northport to Birmingham and back. "Spoiler Alert." They Do!

In my 64th year I've learned a few things. I let people be who they are. I don't preach at them and I don't take preaching from them. Another wise person. This time a wise horribly flawed wonderful man and casual mentor once said "Steve. Accept the part of people that they are willing to share with you. Stop trying to change them or make them give more of themselves than they are willing to share with you."

So, if you have been willing to be my friend in the flesh or on Facebook I thank you for sharing that little part of yourself with me this year. We can agree or disagree on politics, God, or how much time or mutual interest we have in common.

Life's a journey. Just remember that we all have hopes, dreams and we all wake up in our own skin everyday. Until we wake up at home!

"How Long It's been since yesterday and what about tomorrow? What about our dreams and all the memories we share?".... John Denver " Poems, Prayers and Promises"


Peace!