I decided in my bossy way that today should be a laundry day something always fun to do that even a person that hasn’t a clue can throw the clothes into the machine and then can hope they come out clean adding detergent and turning the dials choosing the time to make it worth while wait an hour and then walk over and transfer the clothes into the dryer add a sheet to make it small nice something we do without thinking twice and after another hour has passed the journey over will be the last and folding the clothes so clean and neat and back in the bag and hit the street to make the walk back to Mr. George put clothes away just like before nice and clean and smelling fresh hoping that we passed the test except the only ones who care are two little dogs whose life I share who sleep on the bed one on each side clean covers smell nice our own scents to hide.
I sat here with time on my hands wondering just what I could do I had no task that would demand that I pay attention to instead, I sat and wrote this poem not one of my better works but you could say I have chosen to write these words with all their quirks fifty-five years ago, today we landed on these shores embarking from a mighty ship along with many more the Queen Mary was her name a famous ship of war time but alas this was the last trip that she sailed the line as her long life had come to an end and to dry dock she was sent to be parked in a permanent place to be a monument for her it was the end but for us a new beginning as we started a life in the USA one that we were willing to give it a try to make it work not knowing of the future hoping that this new life would make us all the richer now fifty-five years later a lot has come and gone alas I am sad to say no happy ending to this song those of us that are alive are all still living here my wife has gone to the promised land for her there is no fear along with one of the daughters who chose to take her life rather than lose her husband who wanted a different wife I have two sons in England who carry the family name and they are left to carry on the only ones to remain and one of them has daughters with them the name will end from our side of the family no one to help it extend all the others of my family have long since passed away I am the only one that remains to have the family say my time is short as I grow old the last to sing this song and the name will die on my side of the line when my sons pass on. do I regret making the move leaving a land so green a part of me wish I had stayed but the future was unforeseen the land that I remember the one that I loved then is changed and gone forever as time marches to the end and I will die in a foreign land to end this wistful song. and people will grieve not be deceived nor rejoice when I am gone some I hope will remember me well for the good that I have done maybe others not so much for my friends I am an abstraction travelling around never in one place it’s hard to keep in touch and years have passed but friendships last and still mean just as much maybe we’ll meet on the other side of wherever we will end if this is so then I want you to know that everyone is my friend.
I sat and watched the people in the park at least those few that I could see every one of them leaving their mark especially those visible to me almost all are aging in years living their lives that pleases them gone are all their youthful fears to make that dollar that they spend financially secure to enjoy this life no worries on how to pay the bills retired from work and all its strife family grown with the pride it instills that is what I imagine is their life as we have only met to say hello maybe with a wave and a smile but some things are very apropos the camping life makes it all worthwhile and we all have a very mutual bond old, retired and living with a smile every day and singing the same song if I have but one regret it is finding the camping life so late I missed a lot of time and so it has turned out to be my fate as I live the life the nomads do happy that life can be so great.
I just bought a new RV at least it is new to me. not new off the production line but it will suit me just fine five thousand miles it has on the clock which is barely enough to make it rock and just one other previous owner who looked after it like a lover Miss Daisy was my previous ride and had very little room inside no space around the kitchen sink hardly enough for me to blink and even though our time was short she served me more than just transport and it was with heavy heart the two of us decided to part and now I have a used Class A very much bigger in every way with much more room for us to roam and a kitchen area just like home this one we have named Mr. George a masculine name unlike before for this RV has a manly touch unlike Miss Daisy who we liked so much I have spent the last few days arranging things just the way I want them to be in Mr. George like in the RV’s before although the truth can be told my storing skills are not so bold although I know what it is I need finding it is hard indeed as I haven’t a clue where it may be and locating it is a mystery it really doesn’t matter though for I will search both high and low until I find what it is I need when I do relief indeed not everything is stored away and will not see the light of day just the stuff that never gets used why I keep it I haven’t a clue memories of a previous life maybe when I had a wife or two or three take you pick living with me they could not stick and so, to this life that I have chose driving around on the open road and now I have a new RV well at least it is new to me.
I wonder where the time goes everyday for it is flying by as if to say you need to do the things you want to do for tomorrow is only a few hours away time waits for no one as the saying goes there is no way to stop the clock which shows as we rush through this life no time to spare and we can’t slow it down even though we care each day that comes is quickly gone away twenty-four hours is the length of every day and when we were all so very young each took forever to pass and then some now much older time flies on by and all that we can do is try to make each day last as long as we can before we head off to that promised land or maybe to that other place for those whose lives have been a disgrace not lived according to the word from our parents and others whose wisdom was assured now I am old for me time rushes by each day much shorter although I try to fit in as much as my old body allows each hour becomes two no matter how I try to make each one last longer still instead, they fly on by and I have not the will to change my ways and get up earlier not wasting the hours but getting lazier sleeping away my thoughts chasing the truth as I dream away reliving the days of my youth what time is it did I sleep late again I need to change my lazy ways dear friend and not waste my life sleeping it away as tomorrow is a brand-new day who am I kidding I am too old to change and sleeping late I purposely arranged I have no reason to rise at the crack of dawn I have lived my life and working chores performed now I am old and have no need to work and any chores I have I quickly shirk and put them off to do another day as we grow old such is our lazy way the only thing that I really care whatever the time tomorrow I will be there ready to face yet another day living it in the same old way.
Today is a miserable day it’s raining hard too wet to play outside where I want to be rather than here not feeling free there is something about the sun which makes our lives feel like fun to feel the warmth of its embrace and the heat upon our face makes our lives feel worthwhile and the warmth makes us smile we could not live if the sun did not shine no crops would grow, and the earth would decline into a lifeless planet floating around just like others that are found out in the universe in which we live but we have our sun the heat it gives is life to our planet as things do grow as Nature puts on her beautiful show.
What shall I do today either in the form of play or work around my RV which goes by the name of Miss Daisy several things come to mind mostly of the playful kind for I really do not want to go outside in the wet and snow instead, indoors prefer to be warm and cozy in my RV my two little dogs snoozing sound no worries or fears for them around they are as safe as they can be keeping our company in Miss Daisy we really have nothing planned today take a walk where they can play outside on the trails or in the lane where we walk the paths always the same as other dogs who walked before taking their humans to explore the smells and sights that Nature brings when only the nose of a dog finds things interesting to them enough to smell causing them to pause and dwell in one place longer than the rest until it passes their final test and on to the next making progress slow as only the dogs really know just who or what created the smell which made them stop feeling compelled before moving on along the lane dragging me with them our paths the same returning back home to Miss Daisy cozy and warm inside the RV looking out at the mist and the rain knowing our life is not the same as it ever was before no idea what lies in store just as we live this RV life only knowing it has little strife and me and dogs are having fun in this phase of our life that has just begun.
I got to thinking about the world and the way our lives unfurl as we live from day to day usually in the same old way with habits long established ways as we spend each passing day doing what we did before hoping for just a little more of the things that please us the most for in our brain, we are the host of all the things that happen each day and each in its very own way either pleases us in our wildest dreams or into darkness plunges where it seems that there is no way out then with an almighty shout we rise again on top of the world with trumpets sounding and flags unfurled ready to face another day even if it’s the same old way for life for us doesn’t change a lot which is good for us less we forgot that our time here is not very long we need to enjoy it with a smile and a song and live each day to our very best hoping that we pass the test although in the end it is my belief that the spiritual end that we seek will return us to Nature where we began to be a part of her promised land.
The old way to travel. You didn’t need a license for one of those.
At long last the time had come six years after it had begun to make the trip a distance far in my trusty little car forty miles to a place well known a place my friend has her home Bastrop is the name of the town and in that place can be found a DPS office where I could renew my driver’s license and some could argue that at the age of eighty-five why on earth would I want to drive and the simple truth that I live alone dependent on no one as I have shown for the past thirty-six years not by choice and with many tears my only company in all of that time were the pets who I could always find close by when I needed a friend keeping me company to their end giving me love and raising me up if they felt I was down in the dumps so, I made the trip and made good time arriving there just to find a small wait and fill out a form answer questions that I had to brainstorm take a picture and fingerprints too acting dumb like I haven’t a clue and before very long I was on my way with a new license with which I could play at living my life as I want it to be travelling the highways in my RV.
Two thousand and twenty two is here marking the start of another new year who knows what this one will bring probably a bit of everything and just like the others that passed before unknown to us is what lies in store I’m not sure if I want to know or whether it might soften the blow if bad things are coming would I be prepared or being ignorant would I be less scared but the truth of the matter really is that we won’t know and ignorance is bliss we have no control of the future of our life the chances we take or any of the strife from others the weather or whatever life brings we take in our stride hope eternal springs whatever comes and whatever we face we are the people of the human race and challenges we deal with day by day going through life and having our say and the only thing that we cannot change is the lenth of our lifespan which is all prearranged and when we have reached the end of our time others will come to continue the line and the years will pass as they always do with or without us as life starts anew.
Yet another year has gone as our lives keep moving on towards that final day on earth in the hope of a rebirth something new and a different way and I hope that I have my say as given the choice that I want to be and if I can’t come back as me then maybe a dog would be my choice as I can think of nothing as nice as belonging to a family whose love of dogs is legendry treating each one as a family pet replacing the last but not forgetting the life that each and every one lived especially those we had as kids that ran and jumped and played our way just living for the day when we could go out and have fun me and my dog playing as one if a dog should have a fault it is because their lives are so short but in that time the love it gives to the family with whom it lives it’s life just for the day when outside it can go out and play catching a ball and playing chase running fast to win the race happy to belong to a family not just a dog as the world can see but a special member with four little legs and a cold wet nose and a heart that begs for attention and time to be one of us a part of the family who gets all of the fuss and if there is nothing better than a dog then two or three will help lift the fog of knowing what it is to love something different a true gift from above.
I cannot believe that I am this old for if the truth be told I do not feel my age today even though can’t run or play football like I used to do as my body has not a clue on how to run and jump and kick the ball just in case I trip preferring to keep my feet on the ground better safe than sorry is what I have found as balance is something that goes with age like the body is turning a whole new page to remind us that with the passing years our body grows weak and our greatest fears are the mind stays strong and not fail us today remembering the thoughts, we need to say in order to function in a normal life managing ourselves with little strife now when I try to remember a date or a name or a place or even what I ate I have to think so very hard and not get discouraged and my efforts discard as losing memory comes with old age and in life’s book just another page along our journey that starts when we’re born and continues through life when we are torn between good things and bad suffering and pain and yet we would do it all over again for life is sweet and comes only once before we all turn into dust I am eighty-six years old today and if I could have my say I would try to live just as long if I could keep my body strong and my mind stay functional all of the time for what use is a body if the mind declines on the other hand, when my time draws nigh and I know that I’m going to die let it be in a peaceful sleep dig a hole and bury me deep under a tree somewhere quiet and green out in the country where I can’t be seen and no one will know that I am there for I will no longer care having led my life to my very best not knowing if I passed the test happy instead for my time living my life so sublime.
We went out for a walk as we usually do me and the dogs of whom there are two around the campground then out on the lane that borders the park walking the same old speed for Sandy will not let us amble rushing along as fast as she is able nose to the ground taking in the smells what is so interesting only she can tell which other dogs have passed this way dragging their humans along as if to say come on man why are you slow daylight is burning as if you don’t know and we will be walking in the dark enough already of this slowpoke lark I have no idea if that’s what they say as we rush along no time to play for what goes through any dogs mind is totally unknown to the human kind we don’t love them to talk to us it’s because they make such a fuss and look at us with their big brown eyes showing the love they do not disguise there is no better love than that of a dog they ask for nothing except to jog our memories just like before on with their collars and out the door walking the trails along with their Dad the finest pleasure that a Man ever had.
We are back at Henly RV Park arriving here in the dark setting up camp as we usually do me and the dogs who are my crew although in fact they are not much help as I do the work all by myself backing and levelling and hooking things up and parking the Jeep in front of the truck going inside and straightening the mess that the bouncing and jolting which is a test of how good I am at packing my stuff as the driving along can be very rough all that rocking and rolling along the road can quickly upset the slightest load set up and ready one more time to live this life we find so sublime and the simple truth believe it or not is Miss Daisy is easy to park in the spot and with the push of a button is perfectly level making life easy for this old fellow I really like this RV life wandering around with little strife with the minimal amount of fuss we are three and it is just us no one else for whom to care and no other person about to share this wonderful life out on the road me and two dogs sharing the load.
Where would we be without the rain as things just would not be the same instead of life so fresh and green with flowers and leaves and everything growing strong a pretty sight and filling the world with delight our very life depends on the rain to water the land and keep it the same so that all life continues to grow for without the rain this would not be so.
Sometimes the words just won’t rhyme no matter how many times I switch them around from this to that in the hope that for a fact I can get them right to say or maybe try another way in the end I think what I’ll do because it’s obvious I haven’t a clue on how to write a verse today my aging brain will not say the things that I want to write down I’m not a poet only a clown trying to be something I am not an artist a poet and a really big shot so I will give up on this writing today and take the dogs walking out for a play for at least I know that we will have fun me and two little dogs out in the sun.
I tried to write a poem today but I could not get the words to say the things I wanted to tell the world just to let my thoughts unfurl things were all jumbled and nothing would rhyme although I tried a number of times and had several different attempts but alas in the end I had to lament the fact that my brain’s not a poet today and I tried to write some other way a story maybe but what about no thoughts of anything not even a shout for my favorite football teams or life at this park living my dream no cares or troubles coming my way at least that I know of and have a say in what to do or where to go next or let life get me down why should I be vexed if I don’t like this particular spot then it’s on to the next with a skip and a hop no cares in the world or none that I know living this life so peaceful and slow at my own pace to set my own speed controlled only by my needs for a change of scenery or to meet new friends who knows what is around the bend except on the days that are dull and dark and then we are glad to be in a park not travelling the roads and not having to race feeling safe and secure and in one place.
When I was a younger man nothing was an impossible dream for I was fit and I was strong and with a brain so very keen I really worked upon my strength running far and lifting weights and my body rewarded me letting me reach attainable heights playing sports and good at some but always willing to give it a try and if my skills were not enough I always knew the reason why football played with the feet was a sport that I could not be beat as very good at it was I and that is the reason why I played until I was seventy two and in the end with a sigh I had to stop as the knees gave way and I could no more run, jump and play I worked out in the gym as long as I could and then my interest which had withstood the test of time over all of those years and at the age of eighty two resulted in my worst fears as I gave up working out at the gym and the end result is that my body so trim began to lose all the muscular shape and in its place fat started to take over where the muscles had been and I was no longer that beautiful man who could run and jump and had a plan and at the age of eighty five although I am glad to be alive my mind goes back to those days and all of the wonderful games that I played when I could run and skip and jump instead now I am just a lump of worn out flesh and bones that still tries and likes living this life even though I survive with nothing but thoughts of those wonderful days when I ran and jumped and made all those plays as now I am content to walk the trails just me and my dogs whose love prevails and keeps me going for one more day trying to stay fit and as healthy this way and we will walk as long as I am able for the love of my dogs if only a ramble for just a short walk to help keep us fit just as long as we can until I admit that my time has come and can do this no more and the man I once was whose body is too sore too old, too weak whose muscles galore are gone with the man now at deaths door and when that time comes my race will be run I think back of my life and all of the fun of running and jumping and kicking that ball for hundreds of times against that wall honing my skills to make me the best now it is time to enjoy a long rest.
I sat here thinking that I really need to write a verse as I agreed to post on Saturday which is the day when my verse goes on display as I fill the week with my regular blog Monday thru Friday which is quite a job posting the stories of our life along with Miss Daisy who is not my wife but is in fact my RV where we live that is we three me and my two little dogs my buddies in life without whom I’m lost they are my companions on this journey in life sharing the good and sometimes the strife although their contributions are small just the wag of their tales which says it all as they look at me with their big brown eyes their love for me they do not disguise and in return I give them a home with food and love and were never alone as we walk the trails or around the park which is how our days always starts together we get the exercise we need and the air is so fresh which we breathe filling our lungs as we make our way knowing that this is another great day no one could ask for anything more maybe a few more years to add to the score as life creeps on towards the end me, my RV and my two little friends.
It had left off raining when we got up which was even later than usual and around 10:45 am. I just didn’t even wake up before then and immediately jumped out of bed to get the dogs outside as quickly as possible as with the short walks yesterday and the late start, I knew they had to be “crossing their legs”. We walked around the park but except for yesterdays arrivals, nothing much has changed. I greeted the new arrivals as I walked by and commented on his nice setup. He seemed cheerful enough this morning as opposed to yesterday. The rain had not damaged our site in any way and after brushing off the mats, everything looked shipshape again.
Back indoors, we went through the usual breakfast routine and then I settled down in front of the computer to continue writing. Nowadays, I probably spend a quarter of my waking hours writing or working on the photos that I take. Actually, that is a good thing as it keeps my brain active and the walks are a good physical activity to keep me healthy. I could say fit and healthy but compared to years gone by when I was constantly working out, I am in sorry shape. Once where there was nothing but muscle, there is an unsightly mess. Age tends to do that to you plus the mind is always nagging around saying things like, “Let’s not do that today” or “We can do that some other time” and the worst of all, “No one will ever know”.
We went out for the afternoon walk and stayed around the park. After all of the rain, I figured that the trails are probably a bit wet and muddy and I didn’t want the hassle of washing off the dogs feet. Even so, we covered a mile and a half. stopping to chat to whoever is out and about even if it only to say “hello”. One lady was carrying a broom and dustpan and told me she loves to clean. Better lady than me although Miss Daisy does not have very much floor space to even get dirty. The worst thing I have to deal with is Mikey’s black hair that he sheds all over the place. Luckily, my Ryobi hand vac makes short work of it. Oh yes, the primary rule is, no outside shoes can be worn inside Miss Daisy unless I stay on the outside mats then it’s OK.
The internet reception was really poor probably because of the stormy weather but we were able to watch a game on my laptop before finally going to bed.
Friday 11/5/2021
45ft of RV
We got up at the usual late time and much to my surprise, our new neighbor with the extremely large RV had already left so I guess we were just a stop over on a longer journey. If I was younger, I probably would drive a lot more especially as now it is so much easier with Miss Daisy but somehow, nowadays, I prefer to stay at least a week and longer if I like a campground. Besides, I have nowhere that I need to be except back to Henly for December and January. That has nothing to do with the campground, it’s just that I have set up a couple of Doctor’s appointments and the dogs need their shots so I have packed everything into those two months before heading off again.
We did our usual walking thing around the park before adjourning back for breakfast and coffee and covered almost three quarters of a mile. It was a nice sunny day with the clouds and rain all moved on although I was glad of the light jacket that I wore. I stopped to chat to the park employee that was tidying up the mess that the wheels of the large RV had left. Unfortunately, I don’t think that that driver/owner was very experienced in handling a large rig as from what I could see, he hadn’t made any allowances for the length and the subsequent off-track that the large vehicle created. There is a very definite skill to driving something as big as a semi tractor trailer that articulates at the fifth wheel. Things don’t follow along behind quite the same and because of the length, require a much larger turning space. I hope that this other guy learns as he goes or he will be in an accident by cutting someone else off with his back end. I am somewhat amazed and at the same time very grateful, that the laws governing the towing of an RV especially the very big ones are so lax when it comes to a drivers license. You need a Class C license here in Texas to drive a Tractor Trailer and yet you don’t to drive an RV of equal size and length for a rig like the one we are talking about. I drove a Tractor trailer back in New York mostly in the winter and I went to school to learn how to drive one. I let the license lapse when I moved to Texas as my work then headed in a different direction. Wish I had kept it though.
Another Class A moved in today again into my old site. They had no trouble parking that one but it is not quite as big as the one above. The owners parked and immediately jumped into their tow vehicle and took off. Probably grocery shopping. The weather is definitely cooling off and requires a light jacket on our walks. I hope that we don’t get a winter like we had early this year. There are several kitties that belong to a couple of different owners that go out for walks now and then. Even if there are a couple of them, they never walk around together, nearly always alone. Strange animals, cats. Very independent. Now dogs are a whole different story and are definitely pack animals. Besides dogs need humans, cat’s, not so much.
We went out for our afternoon walk and managed to cover almost a mile and a half just walking around the park. Not a lot going on except that another RV pulled into the slot next to my old slot. This one was a Class B and a very neat looking RV. It is small enough that if doesn’t require a tow vehicle as it can be parked in a shopping center with no problem. Makes it real easy to go shopping as the need arises. With all of the excitement over for the day, we went through our usual evening routine of food for us all followed by watching a game on the TV. The reception was really poor even on my laptop and it kept going in and out. I mumbled a lot under my breath and sometimes out loud but stuck it out before heading off to bed.
