December
23, 2013
Sitting
in the Lazy-Boy recliner, I’m surrounded by my youngest son’s drum-kit, which
is presently taking up the living room. This kit is the one item he purchased
for himself when he graduated from high school in 2012. Troy is a magnificent trumpet-player,
but he is starting to navigate his way around the drums. He has rhythm,
and can keep the beat, which is much more than I can say for myself! Believe,
me, I’ve tried. I enjoyed listening to Troy and Travis jamming together this
week, Travis on guitar and Troy on the drums. There have been some impromptu,
unscripted sessions of blues/rock from these talented young men, and a few others, in our
home. This week both of them are home since Troy is on winter break from
college, and Travis has five days off from work. 
On
Saturday, December 28th, Troy leaves for ten days overseas. He is
travelling with the Riverside City College Marching Tigers, and will be
performing at the London New Year’s Day Parade 2014, and also at the Calabata
de Reyes Parade on January 5th in Madrid, Spain. This is a trip of a
lifetime, and since seeing the itinerary this week, I really wish I was going!
I am very glad for Troy to have this opportunity! 
I
realized recently there will be three of the cousins overseas at the same time
when Troy goes to London. My niece Lacy was here for a month, and she and her
husband returned home to Germany last Monday, December 16th. The next day, my
niece Jenna left for Saipan for three months, studying biology. And Troy leaves
this coming weekend. I am thrilled for each of them, because of their
adventurous spirit they can travel to new places and experience other cultures,
making memories to last a lifetime.
As
for myself, I am on the brink of something new, and different, and possibly
going back to something I’ve done before. Time will tell, and in just a few
weeks I will know the answer, at which time I can be specific. But for now I
need to remain ambiguous and mysterious. Let me just say, the past 16 years
have been challenging in regards to how I earn a paycheck, but I have no
regrets. Sometimes, taking a step backwards is moving forward, and sometimes it
is time to act on faith, rather than just say
it. Sometimes, reduction equates to healthy living. Sometimes, enough is
enough. Sometimes, my own expectations keep me enslaved to what I think I must
do, rather than releasing myself from such unreasonable expectations and living
a life which is free and balanced. There is a photo my brother Fredee posted on
his facebook page recently, which sums up what I am trying to say. Why? Because
of what happens next. This little girl on the swing is going to jump off that
swing any minute, and she is going to land on her feet. This little girl in the
read cap is me.
