Dear Reader:

Have you ever considered how and when the word “usually” becomes the enemy of adventure? It does’t happen overnight but slowly… until one day we realize we are truly “stuck in a rut.” 

Unfortunately if we aren’t careful it sneaks up on us as we age…particularly when retirement sets in. Once all the work-related stress ‘dead-lines’ have disappeared and we are free at last…humans can still manage to do the strangest things…like make up new check-off-lists to do on certain days…thus creating weekly “fillers.”

When we realize we are in deep water of becoming self-imposed (boring) prisoners in our own homes… is if we hear words coming out of our mouths (in response to exciting invitations like going to a concert with our favorite singers, a play, dance, or other social events.)

We respond with…”Oh…I don’t think so…that would be fun but I or we usually clean or order out pizza or watch a particular television program on that night each week…if the concert had just been on another day of the week…maybe next time.” 

I have noticed that the people who are adjusting the best during our stay-at-home pandemic are ones whose life style hasn’t actually altered much from what it already was. Some of my neighbors have made the same comment about themselves…that they are more careful now…follow the guidelines…but they stayed mostly to themselves habitually.

In many ways…depending on personalities…there is absolutely nothing wrong with this choice of life….even though it might seem overly sedentary to outsiders..these same people are up at the crack of dawn working in the yard and will continue doing physical work throughout the day. Sedentary yes…sloth no!

The problem with “usually” is… if we decide we don’t want to make the effort, any more,  to live life as an adventure. I keep discovering more adventures the longer I live…nothing expensive or overly taxing…simply discovering new places, ideas, and people make adventures for me.

Yesterday Mollie and the children came for a Boo Boo visit. I was so glad…hadn’t seen them since Eva Cate’s birthday. We picked up Groucho’s and had a picnic lunch on the deck using my new table and chairs.

It had been so long since the kids at been at my house that they were running in every direction on both sides…trying out new toys and news ways of doing things on old toys. Kids can always make an adventure out of anything.

Eloise loved everything but particularly the garden fairies. She is into them now…she would pick one or two up and run to the fountain to clean them and then run back to the Fairy land in the garden. She wanted to get on the “tractor”….Jackson’s tractor from her childhood…1950’s style…and played the toy piano which put the biggest smile on her face.

I hid an Easter egg for each child since they didn’t get to come to Boo’s for Easter this year…and Eloise discovered, with the help of Lachlan, that “Jack pops up out of the box”…and gets a squeal from her each time.

One little boy who is never “stuck in a rut” is Rut (Rutledge)…he is always searching for new discoveries when he comes to the house…mostly memorabilia from his dad’s football days.

But he also discovered that the rope swing, which is always the Dingle boys’ favorite entertainment, could also work while standing up and then later climbing up on it while the rope was still swinging…he and Lachlan tried to outdo each other ….looking like little monkeys climbing the rope swing higher and higher…until Boo couldn’t look any more! 🙂

Lachlan, never to be out-done by his big bro…went all out!

So until tomorrow….Age is no barrier when it comes to adventure…one can venture mentally, spiritually, and physically…just pick one and stay young!

If someone tells you…”You are acting like a child”...give them two thumbs up and thank them “That’s the highest compliment you could have given me…do so appreciate it…I worked hard for that!  🙂 🙂 🙂

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh