For The Sleepless

A young man went and stood on the beach staring at the ocean With no end in sight, he set out to conquer what was before him. Intrigue got the best of him and no warnings of danger could sway him. It took a certain kind of moxy to defeat a task that no amount of preparation Would be able to calm the fears of an average man. This man was not average. A boat was acquired, equipment purchased. With a dignified breath, the salty air filled his nostrils, His gaze was set and his heart was in rhythm with the waves. A crowd was gathered on the sand watching in wonder and fear. They did not know what the water kept hidden underneath its surface. How can a man and his boat tackle a vastness that had no proof of safety? Firmly with their feet in the sand, the crowd watched the sailor with his sanguine smile Advance toward a makeshift dock to the singular boat. Untying the vessel from its connection to land, the captain rang the bell 3 times. In a staccato like

Over the curb, and into the street, crashing into cars we go. When you roll off the hood, and into the street, you thank God for getting back onto your feet.  Like my little diddy? Since the adventure began, there have been some superlative climbs, and body crushing (b)lows. If you read  The 20 Year Journey , you know that I moved to Florida in late June. I came to Florida by myself, with the help of some amazing people. I moved into a nice house then 2 weeks later I went back to Wisconsin to pick up my family. I missed them so much. There is something about remembering the last moment you had with them before leaving. My newest son, Jaxson, wasn't even a month old yet and I wasn't going to be there to witness that beautiful milestone. The last thing I remember of my interaction with Parker was giving him a long, hard, hug. As I walked towards the security check, I told myself not to look back. I did anyways. The last thing I saw was Parker turning back to mom and them leavi

Today, I broke down. I cried uncontrollably.  I'm okay with admitting it. This happens to all of us at one point in time.  We always dream of life changing events. "One day, I'll have enough money to move out of here."  "I'm getting married in 6 months."  "Retirement is just around the corner." Others dread life changing events. I conversed with 2 men today that were cut down both physically and mentally. I kept thinking, this could very well happen to me, or to any of the other people that I've been talking to lately. It happened to them, and it sucks. One guy told me this, "Infections spread fast. Amputated at my hips. Lying here in bed looking at a flat blanket where my legs used to be. I have no stumps even for prosthetic sockets. It is horrible. They had me in a wheelchair and in the hall and lobby today to get me out. I saw myself in the mirror, it was difficult. In the lobby people stared at me. I was diagnosed Type

If you want to know anything about me, it's that I love music, and I love long car rides. Put the two together and I'm set. My earliest recollection of a long car ride was when I was about 10 or 11. My family was heading to a family reunion in Tennessee, at the time we lived in Texas. I remember receiving a brand new set of Phonics books that had every level ranging from "Dick and Jane" (simple reading) to the age appropriate "Frog and Toad." This was the equivalent of the nowaday electronic entertainment. As we traveled, I remember thinking that Texarkana was as boring as any car trip could get. It was mile after mile with trees and there wasn't much to look at. I remember bickering with my brothers, playing the ABC game, and the bagged lunches and dinners. We pulled in late one night, my parents woke us up, and we checked into a motel. It was exciting times, being on the road and living the child's interpretation of a vagabond lifestyle. Every mi