Thank you for the kind words about Scooter in the Sticks. It continues to be a labor of love and a tool to explore what’s going on in my head. I’m glad it resonates for others at times.

Lots of encouragement coming my way and it does make things easier. I really appreciate it. So as you suggest, I’ll keep on keeping on!

I’m doing well — diet, exercise, stress reduction. All that’s left is get more sleep!

I suppose you have to develop a protective “heightened” awareness if you are going to own and ride a URAL. It’s probably not unlike worries surrounding a heart attack.

All I have in terms of physical monitoring is the Instant Heart Rate app on my iPhone. It used the camera to determine heart rate. Works well and is really accurate. No plans to do anything else.

This blog is a beautiful thing. Not only because of your writing and insight, but also because of the encouragement, inspiration, gentle prodding and love that your followers give you. Lovely to witness in an often hard and uncaring world.

I too would add my encouragement in your post heart attack rehab days. While it’s often easier to give up when physical crisis calls, the alternative isn’t very pleasant. Push on, I say! Stuff your days with things to do and keep on keeping on.

I probably wouldn’t be riding a Metro at all if it weren’t for my husband. He keeps me younger than I really am! So, yay for encouraging words and actions!

Take care, Annie

Rick

Are you going to get one of those apps with accompanying monitor to render all kinds of medical stats on the fly?

Lots of things can conspire to slow us down. For me, my brain will stop me before my body actually will. But at the same time I have great resources of willpower — just not always focused correctly. The fragmentation you highlight is part of that. Finding focus, a center, or the path, whatever one calls it, is a challenge to locate and a challenge to maintain.

For now I’m taking things slow and trying to make more deliberate decisions. In that process I’ve found a lot of rocky personality traits that need some modification!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I appreciate them.

Things can become quite simple I suppose. Just stand up each morning and start walking. Everything else will follow.

Got it — keep my eye out for deer. And liquid manure spills!

Wise words Mike. Threats to mortality are all around us from birth. Just seems they become more apparent with age, or after a crisis. Regardless, continuing the journey is the important part regardless of whether a person knows where they’re headed.

Interesting poem. Dorothy Parker has a unique way of seeing things.