I took a walk today....in the rain no less with Just a drizzle barely touching me it seemed, and yet this was after the entirety of a day in which no sun shone, just water falling.

I passed a man on my left as I walked, ....who had his red car pulled outside and he was here washing it. Strange I thought. I walked on.....

And next to him was a pine, ....still not showing signs of new growth but long in mourning for spring I suppose. Embedded within the boughs was a slight movement as it caught my eye. I paused my walk; it then occurred to me that the colors were of a titmouse as it just sat and watched me pass, but mostly I suppose it was looking at the man washing the car, in the rain. The bird most likely could witness him and me, at the same time. With their eyes on either side, I imagine they view 360 or close....

Moving further along....I passed some long, thin brown lines, strewn along the path haphazardly on the pavement. Worms....escaping their underground encampments which by now are mostly washed away. Worms escape to be on top and survive another day, as they have learned. And yet, someday...one day....they will perform that same act and perhaps will find the sun, suddenly escaping from the clouds, and emit heat upon the pavement and those upon it.  At that time, the worm becomes scorched, will dry out....shrivel up.... and lay etched into the stone sidewalk as its last days caught up to it.

A long ways on and I come across goose poop..... wet now. I wonder if I could follow a flock of geese simply by following their trails? Do you think as such? Do geese poop in flight or does the act of flight tighten them up enough to not so poop? Not sure....

Around the bend I again look down and find this time, just water. It rolls around and is transparent and reflective as well. I often wonder about water as while we need it, we also discard it. My discarded water will become, one day.....years from now I am sure, ....water that someone else will drink. Just as I am drinking that of a lost soul, isn't that a strange thought....

Next as I continue to walk around that bend once more....as I repeat my steps....I look upon the trees, all laden with dead leaves or totally blank with only twigs silhouetted against the sky. But I see little water droplets, hugging the limbs where a bud will soon be, and begging for the wind to crop up, just so they can fall to the ground and settle in. 

​My walk.......not bad. 

I have lived a good life...no doubt. Great daughters and grandkids....a life that I can be proud of as a teacher. It doesn't matter of what age, for I know I touched a few at every age I taught. I have had the opportunity to travel the world and do what I want to do.

Ha...I always say that I have 'led myself' as opposed to having someone or some corporation or some boss etc, ....lead me. No, that didn't happen with me after I wised up to it. 

I can say I found the secret to life although even knowing the secret, it doesn't come easy. But each of us can find that secret and you have to find it yourself, even though I could tell you. You wouldn't recognize it, or...you wouldn't see it, understand or grasp it, unless and until, you do so on your own. 

I loved my involvement with nature ....even though earlier I had grand thoughts of helping the world and saving the planet and joining the Sierra Club etc, well, I found that just by walking the land and rubbing my hands against the tall grasses, or smelling the trees. Or looking at a sunset or a bird in flight and all type of animals doing whatever they do. Nah, I don't know the scientific names for hardly anything and am lucky now to remember what grass blade is what. I do better with birds though. I have learned to appreciate wildlife and habitat and environment and behavior. Sure, I like to find a new bird, but even an everyday bird like a Robin or Chickadee is good enough for me. I can remember when I was just a lad of 4 or 5 and my mom telling me about Robins and migration. I think that started it all. Way to go mom, thanks.....really, thanks.

I felt like I have learned to appreciate many things in my life, whether it is art, or just myself for when the bottom line is here, it is only you that you have to convince of , of anything. Learn to appreciate yourself and your existence within this world of ours. As Mars is being discovered, one meter at a time, you should be able to discover just a bit more about you on a daily basis too. Try it, you might like it. 

We live in strange times, although isn't any time a bit strange with humans floating around? But yes, we live in strange times where much of 'ethics' might escape most people, most of our land is just abused so someone can make a buck if allowed....our wildlife is taken for granted and if in fact, we could put them on a postcard and remember that in that manner, I think most people might accept that. Oh, isn't that so sad.

But today my friends....yes today, well...yesterday too and perhaps even a week ago or two, and I am sure in the future too, it isn't quite time for me to say Adios to the world. No sir....I have important things to do such as losing money in the market or drinking a new glass of wine to celebrate the same, or....listen to music and wonder why I can't sing like that. No, not adios yet for yes, I do have things to conquer as of still. I haven't met a person yet I wouldn't meet again, just to meet. I haven't seen a land, or a bird or an adventure I might turn down too, for anything I run up against is an adventure which I need to experience. 

For one day when I truly might have to say Adios....I want to review my life with a glance within me and know that I have lived 'a life' and not just 'life'. Then when I say 'adios'....I am comfortable saying it. ........... 

By the way....I am not really going anywhere, nor anything wrong.... But I was listening to Glen Campbell's final album he sang with his daughter before he passed away due to Alzheimers. He actually made an album even in his final days.  I grew up listing to this guy; being a country boy from back west.