The Road Not Taken

Another April 19, another milestone. Yup, another candle has been added to my years on earth, and I wonder, when is the midlife crisis going to happen. Maybe it is more how you feel, and I feel in my mind that I am 30, which means I have about 30 years more before I should be having a midlife crisis - since I will be living until I am well past 100 years. At least that is the plan. I find myself wondering how I got where I am - and I am not talking about direction on Google Maps. Life is like one big road trip. Sometimes it puts you on the fast track, like the # 2 highway between Calgary and Edmonton, and then you putter along the gravel roads, slowing down for deer as they bound across in front of you. Once in awhile you have a big rock hit you in the windshield, it may eventually end up in a crack if you let it, but if you deal with it right away, you can patch it up and it can be as good as new. Sometimes you have major breakdowns, but in awhile, with time, and money, things can be fixed. Minor things like flat tires occur-slight frustrations can be dealt with quickly. Occasionally you will run out of gas. I have travelled on many roads, across Canada, the USA and in England, have gotten a few tickets along the way, and a few demerit points, but those are the risks you take. There have been a few T-intersections, and the final destination may be different depending which turn you take. There may be a few bumps in the road - just slow down a bit and it won't jar the teeth out of you. Once in a while you will get lost, but you will often end up in the place you were heading for eventually if you persevere - and you make sure your tank is full. Sometimes you feel like you should drive for the other person - but backseat driving should be kept at a minimum.

I remember reading Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" in high school-I feel I have taken the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.