Friday, February 13, 2009

progress

I thought I'd take a moment to celebrate having come to some milestones in my life. For some years I have worked on several projects that are coming to fruition.

I started building my home in 1998, getting it out of the ground and under roof and dried in by the end of that year. I have been slowly working on it ever since as time and money and energy allowed. While I may never completely finish it, I have come to a point I have been looking forward to for many years. I am putting trim on, giving the rooms a much more finished look.

On another important front, I have put as much ground under cultivation as I feel I need and want. I'm about through with busting sod. There's plenty of work to do on the land I have already claimed.

I have a warm, comfortable studio set up in my home that I can access most any time. Doing art work and playing music have become regular activities.

The dogs I raised from puppies are almost ready to breed. They are beautiful, intelligent and delightful dogs and I look forward to seeing their offspring.

There are many areas of my life that are a work in progress, as I hope it always will be. I am grateful to have come this far with some of the projects that have meaning for me. I can't even begin to express the significance of friends and family in my life. The material accomplishments pale in comparison.

My family is far flung and has had it's share of emotional distance. In the past year relationships have strengthened and improved, estrangements have been healed and I am hopeful of renewed love and increased contact.

If this is the accruing of the benefits of maturity, bring it on, I embrace it fully. I am more content in retirement than I can remember ever being before. Yes, there is still much that I can long for, much to do, much to look forward to, much to learn, much to share. I'm not done yet. Many tasks remain, projects are ongoing, relationships, houses, gardens, and dogs require maintenance. It is satisfying to take stock and realize that progress has been made. Onward.....