32....Damn!

When I wake up tomorrow I'll wake up to the body of a 32 year old man. Well I'll say man...and some might still say boy. But to me that's a compliment! I spent this years birthday vacation going to see one of my favorite performers with my favorite brother in the world. OK, he's my only brother, but we still had a blast.

Andrew and I found ourselves in Vegas for one of the Garth Brooks concerts. I don't think I could ever actually sum up the emotions of his performance. Seated 50 feet above one of my favorite all time entertainers waiting for the show to start, I heard several people talking about what song he would start with. I knew what song it would be..because much like Garth's life, the lyrics of this song plays to my own heart....and you should have seen the necks whip around when he belted out with "Much Too Young" the song I called as being his first. I've always said that song is the story of my life, and request it be played at my funeral one day.

Much too young to feel this damned old! Turning 32 is no exception. If you are only as young as you feel and age is just a number then hell...I'm never leaving 25 in my mind. Twenty-five was a great time...but 32 won't be so bad. Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I've had enough to last most people a life time, but I'm sure up for a lot more before my race is through.

Garth's show was one that was very special to me, almost like hearing the wind whisper my name. For awhile lately, I'd forgotten how much music means to me. I guess trading the radio for graduate books, and a mountain of multi-tasking had left my soul craving a good song yearning to reconnect with my inner child. So here's a play list of some of my favorite song memories.

Tracy Lawrence- "Gonna Live Forever, If The Good Die Young" Picture this song blaring out of two old 1983 F-250 radio speakers as I flew down back roads learning to shift gears in an old diesel like she was a Porshe 911 on a Grand Prix course. Yes, that good.

Top Gun Soundtrack- "Danger Zone" in a Sony knockoff tape player lifting weights and trying to be the meanest football player that I could.

Ernest Tubb- " Waltz Across Texas" She was the best dancing girlfriend I've ever had, and we could steal the show waltzing to this song. We never made it as a couple, but this song always started fireworks.

Conway Twitty- "That's My Job" I always knew no matter how bad it got, the old man would help me out. Quite frankly the world would be a better place if every father was like that. I'm lucky to have had a father that allowed us to step out on our own and let us be who we are.

Keith Whitley & Earl Thomas Conley- "Brotherly Love" the kid may have been a pain growing up but damn he's one of a kind! I have the best brother in the world and am proud of the young man he's grown up to be. Having him along this year for my birthday trip was special!

As I look to the next years of whatever my life brings...I've come across a song that puts a lot of it into perspective. Jason Aldean's "On My Highway"

On my highway the yellow lines, Have disappeared from time to time, And I've wound up on the wrong side of the road,On my highway I've gone to fast, Afraid that I might finish last, I hooked a curve too hard and lost control, Oh I never know which way it's gonna go,

(Chorus)

But what a feeling chasing the sun, Living my life like it's shot from a gun,Laughing a little bit more with every mile,Oh what a freedom racing the wind,Dying to know whats around the next bend, And smiling as I watch the years roll by,I'm learning how to take it day by day on my highway,On my highway I missed some signs, And left a damn good love behind,I see her in my rear view like a ghost,On my highway I've broken down,And cried when no one else was around,And prayed that God would save my soul,Ya I've paid a lot of heavy tolls,

(Chorus)

Yeah Yeah,What a feeling out on the run,Drinking up the rain soaking up the sun,Laughing a little bit more with ever mile,Oh what a freedom like a sail in the wind,Not looking back not forgetting where I've been,Smiling as I watch the years roll by,I'm moving on from my mistakes, And I'm learning how to take it day by day,On my highway,Oh oh yeah.


I'm blessed and looking forward to the next 32 years up around the bend.

Hasta compadres!
LB

Perseverance

Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist but the ability to start over- F Scott Fitzgerald

That seems to be my quote this summer! Persevere...or maybe...survive, endure, tolerate, move forward, and don't compromise. It's turning out to be a late night and that figures for a long day tomorrow. However, seeing as I'm awake and with a million and one thoughts running through my head I might as well write some of them here. First off...wow! Summer is flying by but its brought about some great things.

My new job is wonderful and it's pretty cool to work where you can actually say what you think without worrying about stepping on toes. I'm pretty lucky (blessed) to be where I am and what I'm doing. Now if I can just figure out all the procedures...but I'll persevere!

Summer school is flying by but I feel it's about to get a lot faster! Taking 6 hours for the last summer session, and they might be a little complicated. The pressure of taking the hours now is better than extending it another year though...so I'll persevere!

Rebel has been injured all summer but he is feeling a little better. It has sucked not being able to compete, but its better to take care of your horse and win the gold buckle another day. I'm sure we'll start several paces back of where we were when he tore his knee up but....we'll persevere!

In the meantime we're blessed with lush green grass, fat calves, beautiful weather, the best of friends and family, and perseverance. Because things won't always go perfect, the future is never known, but this game called life we endure, must always go on!

LB