Turning Final

More flying analogies; oh well, use the tools left to me, I say.

It has been a while, so I need to review a bit.

The end of summer saw me returning to Bend to finalize my separation from 46 years with Teri. Stress level medium/high. After details were worked out, I had to collect all the things that we agreed were to remain mine alone. Stress level increases slightly. After a stressful moving stent, all items are “consolidated” into two storage units or at one of the Teagues. Now the downsizing really begins.

I sold a few of the big items and gave away a lot. As each item left my control and was no longer a factor in my future, the stress lessened. It became quite liberating to let go and simplify my life. It was also surprising to find a great deal of satisfaction to see my things go to a new home where they would be appreciated and used. Money was not a pressing issue, so I was able to be charitable and help out friends at the same time. More liberating, and my stress level decreased with each placement of one of my possessions in a new home.

By December I’ll have reduced the storage units to one 5×10 from two 10x10s. I’m never going to eliminate my need for some storage as I plan to keep some of my dad’s silver tools and other mementos. My goal will be whatever fits in my car and one 5×5 storage unit. Period.

I have until April to get there and it looks like that will be no problem. Each day I visit my stuff in storage and get rid of some more. Stress level lowering steadily. After tax time I’ll be able to evaluate my financial future and final level of freedom. I’m looking forward to an increasingly simple and uncluttered lifestyle.

It feels like I’m established on the localizer and should have the runway in sight soon. The weather is way above minimums, nearly VFR.

With the election over, I’m hoping for things to calm down a little. Hoping, but not expecting. Having proved to the rest of the world that we can fuck up the election process even more than the Brits, we can now move on to destroying what little respect the rest of the world has for us.

That will happen, but we (and our “system”) will survive. I was hoping to see our country make great progress, oh well. To our grandchildren I apologize, Good luck when it is your turn.

Tomorrow I fly back from a perfect week (no, seriously, it’s been fabulous ) of Fall weather in Lakewood, CO. The forecast calls for lots more of the same in Bend.

Tomorrow is also Veterans Day. Please remember, it is not Memorial Day. Remembering those that did not return is always a good thing. But how about tomorrow you just call a veteran friend you haven’t seen for a while and say, “It is good to have you back, how are you doing?” Especially the veterans of the post 911 conflicts. We need them made whole and we are falling far short of giving them the support they need.

Like us, the kids of today grow up thinking of combat as heroic and honorable. Then we ship them off to the real thing before they are fully grown and we don’t give them the tools to deal with reality. After their service, we allow them to withdraw when they can’t “fit in”.

So reach out to a Vet tomorrow and don’t pretend to know what their problems are unless you’ve “been there”. Just let them know they are valued and still needed in our world.

I’m working on two things from, of all things, a Prayer.

The will to change the things I can.              And

The wisdom to recognize the things I can’t.

As Douglas Adams said, “Don’t Panic”.

The weather is perfect for both.