Tracks

-

Life seems long sometimes.

The road isn’t always smooth.

I love shots of the railroad tracks.

When I was a teenager I walked the railroad tracks a lot. We used to pick them up behind the cemetery at the end of the street, and we’d take a long, slow walk to the grocery store or to the bar.

I’d walk and talk and we’d have a chew and a few beers.

Walked with a whole bunch of great friends.

We’d talk about the girls we liked, our dreams, what life would be like when we were finally adults.

I think of those buddies and it all went pretty well for all of us.

I used to be afraid of heights, which was pretty scary at the one part where we were exposed to a fall to the ground below.

I climb all over the place now...

...learned how not to look down.

I miss those days of dreaming about what is in front of me.

At 55 years old, well, the page is pretty filled up. There are a lot of days left, hopefully, and there are still things I want to do.

But have you ever walked a great distance and then turned around and look how much ground you’ve covered? I always do that on a long walk...

...I turn around and see what I’ve done.

Thing is:

You gotta’ keep moving.

“I make my way through the darkness because that’s where I’ll find the morning light.”

As a kid, everything was bigger!

Love seemed more desperate.

Disappointments stung for a long while and there was a lot of confusion and wonderment.

I kinda’ miss that.

“There’s no new, there’s just again.”

Life goes on.

Those three words are ones you really learn to rely on.

And this too will pass.

Back when I was walking the railroad tracks I knew those sayings but I didn’t really appreciate it.

Some of the people I’ve loved have fallen away as I’ve walked forward.

Those who passed away are still with me...

...others stopped somewhere along the way...

...didn’t keep moving forward.

Yet, as I look at those tracks, now I wonder how far the journey will be.

“I got something on my mind that keeps me straight and walking proud.”

I used to walk along, looking at my feet, hitting the ties on the same spot, sometimes missing and even falling down.

Laughed a lot back then.

Told some stories.

I recall exactly where I was on this tracks when a buddy told me that he’d slept with a girl. I couldn’t believe it! We weren’t old enough!!

There’s a lot of miles on my feet now.

Sometimes they ache.

But forward I go!

Wanna’ see what lies ahead!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more