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Category Archives: Life

I’ve Lost an Old Friend

Last night I discovered that I’d lost an old friend. A friend that has traveled many miles with me over many years. We’ve been hand in hand on more occasions that I can count. It really saddened me when I realized they were gone.

You see I’ve depended on them. I’ve trusted them. On a couple of occasions I’ve trusted them with my life. They’ve had my back from day one. I took good care of them and they took good care of me. Obviously had I taken better care of them they would still be with me.

This friend was sharp. This friend always had a shine to them. They always did exactly what I wanted them to do. You just can’t ask for anything more than that now can you?

Now the process begins for me to find a replacement. I don’t look forward to it. I keep hoping that they truly aren’t gone. I keep hoping that I’ll find them. I keep hoping they are simply hiding from me. Unfortunately I doubt any of this is true.

And so it begins. I am embarking on a journey of discovery. A journey to replace this trusted tried and true friend. I’m not sure where I’ll start the search. It must begin soon though. You see…….a man really needs a good knife.

Guilt

Guilt is an ugly thing. People use it against one another. They use it to push the buttons of someone. They use it to control someone.

Sometimes people let their own guilt work against them. They keep dwelling on the thoughts of other people and it turns into guilt. Doing so undermines ones entire mindset.

Guilt causes people to forget about the ones that stand by them. The ones that remain there supporting them now matter what. The ones who have dedicated their life to supporting them mentally and physically. The ones who have emotionally supported them through the darkest depths of life.

How do you overcome guilt? First you must forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for the things that trouble you. Forgive yourself for causing so much pain and strife among others.

Don’t let guilt cause you to destroy the relationship that you fought so hard to have. The relationship that you made someone else let you  have. The relationship that reminded you of who you really are or where you came from.

Guilt is an evil thing. It eats at us unmercifully. We can overcome guilt. We must forgive ourselves so that we can move forward. Holding onto the dead and dying relationships of the past isn’t the way to go on.

There is a reason we fight for relationships. We know they are worthy. We know they are needed. We know they are wanted. Guilt can overshadow those things. Guilt prevents us from seeing what we truly want. What we truly need.

Guilt is yet but another object that gets in our way. The journey of life is full of them. We must learn to overcome, move around and put these objects behind us. Guilt is but a temporary distraction. We can’t dwell upon it. It can’t bring us down if we don’t let it.

Ronman

I couldn’t agree more

Ahhhh! Scooter Time

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After far too long off the scooter I was able to enjoy a wonderful leisurely afternoon ride. I rolled out-of-town on back roads meandering around the beautiful countryside just soaking it all in. It doesn’t matter how bad things have been, if you get on your scooter and just ride it all seems better.

The route I was taking was a familiar one. It wound me through some majestic farmland. Physically and mentally taking me back to a simpler time. A time when the worries of life were far fewer. A time when I simply enjoyed just living. Today’s ride helped get me back to a place that I long to be. A place that I’m working toward. A place that I will once again live.

What do you do when you are wanting to simplify things? Do you get on your scooter and ride? What sort of places do you ride in order to take you back to where you want to be?

Ride Safe

Ronman

Glass Houses

It’s been said that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.  Sage advice don’t you think?  Lately there have been many stones tossed my way.  I’ve stood by silently for months. I haven’t voiced my thoughts or feelings on what’s been going on. Finally I’ve decided to end my silence. It’s time my voice was heard.  This isn’t going to be a happy post about some great ride I took. Those of you looking for my normal post would be better served to just skip this one.

The people who have decided to judge me are people I’ve known for a while. Some even most of my life.  Others are people who I met after coming out of a dark period in my life.  These are people I once cared for and loved.  I guess for those reasons I had blinders on and didn’t want to see them for who and what they really are. Unfortunately they’re two-faced back stabbers.  But I’ve come to decide that loosing these people as friends is a blessing. A relief actually. Sort of like when you do some spring cleaning and get shed of all the rubbish and trash that’s been cluttering up your place.

Funny how these people have forgotten so many things. Like my contact info. You know when they ask other people my address for some mystical thank you note. Funny they didn’t have trouble contacting me when they wanted to complain about their relationships. When they needed help with something. When they wanted to borrow something.  All have complained about their spouses. All have talked about one another. Like I said I had blinders on.  Their little group will self implode in time. Oh and for those on the edge of the core group, they talk about you like dogs.  Ever wonder why you didn’t get invited to everything?

Let me take a moment and apologize to those on the outskirts of the group. If I’ve offended or hurt any of you by being a part of that core group I’m truly sorry. I should have been a better person and not overlooked so many things. From this point on that will change. I no longer have on blinders.

I will be the first to admit that I was hurt by these people turning their back on me.  In time I’ve come to realize what a blessing this truly is.  I feel as though a burden has been lifted from me. I can breathe fresh air and know it won’t be polluted with the pungent fumes of two-faced back stabbers talking out of both sides of their mouth.  To support who they have means that they condone what that person did.

Some things in life are simply black and white. Unfortunately I lost respect for someone I cared deeply about. That loss hurt deeply. In the following months I’ve lost respect for many other people as well.  I’ve come to realize that is just life.

This is my way of putting this all behind me. I’ve decided to move on from this.  Yet again there is another debt paid in full in the tuition of life.  I’ve learned from this. I’ve become stronger because of this.  I contemplated this for many hours. In conclusion I have decided that in hindsight should these events occur again, I would do exactly the same thing.

Who lives in glass houses? We all do. We all have stones thrown our way. We all have people who aren’t who they portray themselves to be. Lessons learned in life are what makes us who we are. I’m proud to know exactly who I am.

 

Ride Safe

 

Ronman

I’m thankful that old road Is a friend of mine

Seeing this line reminds me of all the years I’ve spent on the road.  It’s a life not for everyone. You’ve got to be about a half bubble off plumb to want to do it.  I’ve so many memories from the road. It truly is a friend of mine.

Countless are the miles I’ve spent over the past two score and three years. Traveling in automobiles, tractor trailers and on motorcycles I’ve seen some sights.  One day I’ll reflect long enough to write about it. Until then, like tonight, I’ll mount up and travel the highways and byways of this great land. Seeing the sights both in real-time and also in my mind’s eye.  For the latter are truly the special ones. Those etched deep within my very core. They are the scars that have made me who I am.

Fitting Advice For A Monday

Searching for Simplicity

Simplicity doesn’t sound like a very difficult thing to find now does it? Unfortunately it seems to be very elusive for me.  How do I find that which I seek?  First things first. Think simply, simply think. In doing so one thing came to mind.  Camping.

Fortunately for me Tennessee is blessed with some of the most wonderful state parks of any across the land.  That being said, all that I needed was to decide which state park to visit.  I had been invited by a dear lifelong friend to join he and his family for a weekend of camping. As much as I love this family I knew I needed to spend time alone. Rock Island State Park provided just what I needed. Fortunately for me the tent camping area only had two other spots in use.  I settled in the back corner and set up camp.  Arriving in the late afternoon I had just enough time to get the tent up and the fire going before darkness fell upon me.

I spent the rest of the evening thinking about things. I used the peace and quiet to sort through things. Not that I made any progress on the things on my  mind. At least I didn’t have any outside distractions.  Well unless you consider the moon and stars shining down from above as distractions.  Such a wonderful crisp clear night.  I couldn’t help but think of all the campfires I’ve watched burn throughout my life.  There is just something mystical about the way the flames lap around the wood like a tongue working over an ice cream cone.

I’m not sure what time I finally crawled inside my sleeping bag. Time doesn’t really matter when you are on a journey like the one I was traveling on this night.  I do know that the roosters crowing must have had their internal clocks screwed up.  I suppose the moon could have had them stirred up.

Along with the roosters crowing I was also serenaded to sleep by the distant sound of someone’s hound working a track in the night.  Having grown up coonhunting I knew exactly what was going on.  I traveled back to those oh so many nights listening to my own hounds chasing Mr. Ringtail around the hills and hollows of Tennessee.

The next day I woke after some sleep. Granted I didn’t sleep soundly. Although these days I rarely if ever do.  I was very nice to wake to the fresh air and sunshine.  I spent a few minutes soaking in the beauty surrounding my humble little campsite.  I may not be able to get away from all that is bothering me. I may not be able to clear my mind. I was however able to stop for a few moments and enjoy the majestic beauty of the wonderful state that lies within these united states that I call home.I’m still searching for simplicity. I may have had a brief glimpse at simplicity. It’s still not within my grasp. I know it exist. Someday once again I’ll embrace it. Until that time I’ll continue my search for simplicity.

 

Ride Safe

 

Ronman

There’s just something about sitting beside a fire

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

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