Blog

     Life can really be a full contact sport. It doesn’t ever play fair, though.  It always seems to have the upper hand and is always on offense.  Once in awhile, you gotta’ call a time out. 

     That is exactly what I did, recently. A nice vacation from the hustle and bustle of life was just what the doctor ordered.  Life for the last few months seemed to be like looking out the window of a car driving down the highway.  Everything in the distance slowly getting closer.  Then, quickly flashing by in a blur.  Doctor’s appointments, two surgical procedures, moving a child back from college.  Daughter graduates, graduation party and all the planning that comes with all of these events.  Even planning for our getaway was a task.  For us, it is no longer simply booking and going.  There is far more that has to be considered.  Stressful, but we managed. 

     We had the great blessing of taking a cruise to Alaska.  It was a trip that my wife and I had dreamed of for many years.  The stars aligned and we pulled it off.  It was such a great opportunity to just leave our worries behind for a brief moment.  ALS can never be left behind, but it was the closest I could get.  A chance to focus on enjoying the moment.  Taking a breath of clean, fresh air.  A change of scenery.  Several days without phone or internet access.  No phone calls or email or social media ! I spent some good time just sitting on the balcony on a couple of occasions.  Drifting off with my headphones on.  Things seemingly normal for a  little while. 

     Of course we must all return to reality.  Life beckons us back.  The game resumes.  But we all need to call for a time out every so often.  We all can’t escape to some exotic destination, but we have the ability to get lost right where we are.  Whether it is a book, music or a good movie.  Maybe it’s looking out a window while watching rain fall.  Find a moment to call that time out.