“Well, I’m running down the road trying to loosen my load, I’ve got seven women on my mind. Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me, and one says she’s a friend of mine. Take it easy, take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy. Lighten up while you still can, don’t even try to understand. Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy.” After three full days on the road from Little Rock to San Diego, and nearly 1,700 miles behind me, I’ve been doing a lot of relaxing, resting and soul-searching (in between doting on my newborn grandson & catching up with my youngest daughter). And quite honestly, I need this time to chill, because in just a few days, I’ll be getting back on the road and doing it all over again (yep, another three days and 1,700 miles). But actually I’m one who has always enjoyed long road trips, especially if I can get off the interstate at some point. Maybe see some small town where a celebrity or famous politician may have been born, or bit the dust in? In all seriousness, I have went off the beaten path in the past and visited the likes of both Dan Blocker and Doc Holliday’s graves (sounds morbid I know, but I prefer calling it “paying my respects”). Hey some people hit up antique shops, and I do this okay?
And there really is something about the open road that does help to clear the mind some, like a lot of people I’m sure? In some ways to me it’s much like looking at the stars at night, knowing that in the grand scale of things, my life is really meaningless to 99.999% of the people, and that we’re all on this earth together for a very, very short time. And the older that I get, the shorter that time becomes. So in a way, road trips do help to loosen my load in many ways. This past year I’ve been so caught up in trying to find love again, that perhaps I’ve forgotten what’s really important? And that is of course the love that I have for my small, little family of three (two daughters and now a grandson). I’ve already had a full life, have experienced many of the same highs and lows that most everyone has as well. And have been in love, and for some reason, have fortunately had others love me a time or two. And I’ve been able to experience many road trips all over this great country of ours, and have also traveled to the Caribbean and western Europe (coincidentally, I’ve also visited Eleanor Rigby’s grave in Liverpool, England too). All this to say, if it ended tomorrow – I’ve been a very lucky man and have had a hell of a ride!!!
Not that I want it all to end tomorrow of course, but however many years that I still have in me, I do need to lighten up while I still can. And not even try to understand? And as far as trying to find love again, maybe I need to stop actively searching for it (which obviously that isn’t working for me?), and see if it will come to me when it’s time and we’re both ready for it? Yea, of course I’m ready for it as you know, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anyone else is. And for those women that have been and in many ways are still on my mind – none of them by the way want to own me (as far as I know?), though several may want to stone me?, along with one in particular who has made it clear that she is a friend (only a friend) of mine. Thank you for being a part of my life in whichever way that you are. Whether that’s as a good friend, a lover, or a co-worker who may also be going thru some of life’s lows as many of us do from time to time, there’s a reason why all of you are constantly on my mind. It’s because each one of you do help to make my life special. And if finding love never does happen for me again, well, I guess I’ll just need to find a place to make a stand, and learn to take it easy.