Boston to Austin, aka Retirement Month Nine/Ten

 
Shenandoah Valley. From Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's an Eastern Bluebird trilling in the trees on the right.

What a ride. Six and a half days. Fly north, drive south. Excellent adventure. Well, after a crappy American Airlines experience. Sister is taking care of that. I was just along for the ride. Once we got to Boston, the rest of the trip was amazing. 

Things I learned:

• Take nothing for granted. Double check everything. When your sister thinks you should do something, like, I dunno, check in on-line the day before...do it. Without question.
• There's sometimes a fine line between inner repose and system shutdown. The trick is to trust your instinct and choose the healthy step.
• It's a good thing to be with friends when loved ones are lost, and at the same time, celebrate their lives. Celebrate all beginnings and endings.
• It's also a good thing to be with friends with new babies! Always!
• Compassion is a great healer for everyone involved.
• Nothing soothes a drought-dried soul like wet earth and green, growing things.
• Hog maw and creamed chicken on waffles are acceptable breakfast, lunch, or dinner fare in some parts. 

Electronic devices on hand: 1 laptop, 2 iPads, 1 iPhone, 1 iPad Touch, 1 Blackberry, & 2 non-smart cell phones. It was so relaxing to get away from the grid for a while...well, after a last round of Plants vs. Zombies. For the night. Or checking e-mail. Or Facebook (for me--other 2 abhor Facebook).

It will be a year come August 31 that I retired. It's been the most jam-packed year yet. Overflowing with fear, joy, gratitude, fun, progress, growth, sorrow, understanding, revelation, pain, pleasure, failure, success, contraction and expansion, and ripping adventure. Who could ask for anything more?