2018

A common saying in retirement is, “Where did the time go?” It seems like only yesterday that I was full of hope for new titles on my young dogs.  Now it’s almost 365 days later and we’ve done so much.

I pulled onto my country road early this morning for an eight a.m. appointment across town.  But I found myself in a nightmare situation.  Hundreds if not thousands of people who had left the area were now returning to their homes and businesses and jobs and schools.

Will the Weather Channel’s prediction of a Category three hurricane turn out to be all hype or accurate.  Seems like I’ve been here before over the decade I’ve lived in NW Florida.  So far its been all hype.

Imagine being told that you have to retire due to your age.  But you are despondent because you are still full of energy and consequently very restless.  What should you do to fill in your time? 

This summer some friends drove me to an out-of-the-way Alabama country farm.  We were returning from a shopping excursion at the Outlet Mall in Foley.  We turned off the paved back road, Highway 98, onto a dusty, clay covered but well maintained road. 

I walked alone one early September morning, And stopped and admired the kelly-green blades of wet grass at my feet.

I was twenty-eight years old the day my Golden Retriever, Trevor, and I entered our first AKC obedience trial in Washington state. The date was May 6th, 1979 and I believe the judge was John Cox. Trevor didn't hear me on the recall so we flunked.

It's been hot and muggy, the beginning of another typical NW Florida summer. Each day as the dogs and I slog around the property early in the morning I hope that a storm will give me an excuse to not mow the lawn in the oppressive heat.

It's so pretty at this time of year. Everything is green and promising. But then I saw my first snake. 

I'm trying to become familiar with my camera's f-stops as it relates to depths of field, with the ISO at the automatic setting.

Over the years I've heard that the Perry, Georgia Peach Blossom Cluster is a dog show you either like or hate.

My two-year-old Border Collie, “Bodie”, Infinity’s Limitless, loves to work, has a great attitude and always amazes me with his energy.

Love makes the world go around. We all want it. We all need it. We can try to live without it but can we live a healthy life without some form of love?

I live with fear every day.

Over the years I've been called a hypochondriac, lazy, "slow", unmotivated. But in my heart of hearts I've known that it was my body that let me down, not my brain. I am not alone.