Boone...Home Away from Home

There is no place like home...or at least a second home. Going to school at Appalachian State was more than just a college experience for me, it was a life experience. I loved everything about the environment, the people and the way of life. For me I could not have picked a better place to spend my collegiate experience. I was also fortunate enough to work a few years for the University after I graduated, which allowed me to also really embrace the "mountain spirit." My parents fell in love with the area as well, so much so that they built a little cabin in the woods that allows all of us to come back and visit every once in awhile.

This weekend I am heading up ole 421 for the first time in 4 1/2 months. Folks, that is the longest this girl has be away from the mountains. My heart aches I miss it so much. I look forward to seeing the parkway, my Alma mater, tasting a little BYB, walking down King St. and even spend a little time in the tourist trap known as Blowing Rock. One thing I know for sure....I cannot let this happen again. Boone provides a therapy for me that no medicine on the market can.....peace.

Perhaps somewhere down the road I will be fortunate enough to have my silver years in the mountains. I can only hope. In the meantime, I will enjoy these upcoming weekends gloriously and never take them for granted.

JAR

Crows Feet

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forewards"- Soren Kierkegaard

So I started my morning off like I always do....begrudgingly climbing out of the bed placing one foot on the floor at a time. As I sat at the edge of the bed, I thought to myself, I really have to be too old for this. You know, too old for getting up, getting ready for work deal? I mean how do people do this everyday for 30, 40 or even 50 years. And what about the people who do it three to four hours earlier than me everyday. Just too hard. I am never going to survive being a mother.

As I waddled to the bathroom I heard Winston in his crate snoring....lucky dog. He has the life. All he has to do is lay around all day, eat and go to the bathroom. Occasionally he has to pretend to like me, but other than that, he has it made. At that moment I am convinced that I am coming back as a dog in my next life. Decision made.

So I venture into the bathroom and start running the water for the shower. As I bend over to adjust the temperature I feel a ping go up my back. Ouch! Where did that come from? All of the sudden I felt sore all over and realized I just was moving a lot slower than I was used too. Probably just a slow start. As I got into the shower and started my normal routine I could not help but notice that my feet looked a little different. No wait...a lot different. I was developing a bunion on my foot. What? No....could not be! I have great feet...better yet...beautiful young feet. Could this be a sign?

As I quickly finished up in the shower I got out to start blow drying my hair. Now as I was doing that you have to imagine that I was starting to analyze every portion of my body at this point. Is that a varicose vein on my thigh? Do I have more cellulite than normal? And what about those tiny little lines by my eyes when I smile or heck....even when I don't smile. It was then and there that I realized....I was getting old.

Old. Me...old? Well I suppose it had to happen at some point....but I always thought it would happen when I was say, 75? Oh shucks, who I am kidding. I guess it was bound to happen to me....I just was hoping that I might prolong it just a few years longer. However, I keep thinking that I HAVE to have genes on my side. All of my mother's siblings look at least 10 years younger than their age (if not younger). So maybe I will have a little luck working in my favor.

In the meantime, I am just going to keep on living and keep on praying that perhaps those crows feet will just slow themselves down a pace or two.

JR

P.S. And to my Mystery Man, Happy Birthday! To a guy who defies age and lives everyday to the fullest!