This week we used our National Park pass–for seniors–for the very first time.
I bought the lifetime pass for John when he turned 62, two years ago, and we hadn’t made it to a National Park yet, so I was pretty excited to hand it to the ranger at the entrance to The Everglades.
I bought a new passport book and started collecting the cancellation stamps that are located in each National park. We bought one of these years ago with our children. This one is for our retirement.
I immediately started having visions of our future travels. 401 National Parks, Monuments and Reserves. We would travel the land, seeing the depth and breadth of our amazing country, checking off parks along the way. Mountains. Canyons, Seashores. Historical Sites. Swamps.
(Okay, so the Everglades wasn’t very exciting. )
While I was off on my reverie of future plans, I paused to ask John if this was a dream he shared. Was he interested in seeing the National Parks across the country? His slow, thoughtful response was my first clue that we look at life from different perspectives. He’d like to see two places: Carlsbad Caverns and the Grand Canyon (again.)
I decided that I have a “project personality,” a bent to turn things into projects and run with them for awhile, until the next project takes over. It’s how I diet, exercise, read the Bible, pray, sew, write, travel, and well, do life.
The funny thing is that John just retired from a career of doing projects. He built a entire radio station in Alaska (1980-82), a whole new studio and office complex for Oldies 104 (1983-4), automation systems (1993 and 1998), another studio and office complex for ESPN (1998), new towers (2005-6), night phasor rebuild (2007), and the State Street studio (2011). Most recently, he completed the expansion and renovation of the State Street studio two days before Christmas and only ten days before his last day at ESPN. Projects have been all-consuming for John over the years. He eats, sleeps, and dreams his projects, pretty much checking out of the rest of life until complete. Maybe that’s why he isn’t on board for my National Park Project. Yet.
In the meantime, we’re moseying our way around Southern Florida, taking a day at a time, chasing the sunshine (whenever we can. The Sunshine State is reluctant to show its face.) Yesterday John had a big pot of steamed crabs, clams and mussels and about a cup of melted butter. We’ll go north to visit my aunt and uncle in Titusville and make a stop to see Mickey, John’s last employer. We also have a lifetime Disney Main Entrance Pass.
Not bad, eh?
Wow, so happy for you poking around in Florida and your lifetime passes, earned through John’s excellent work. IMaybe you should head over to St Pete for some sunshine. When I lived there, the SP Times had a policy of free newspapers if, in any 24-hour period, the sun didn’t shine. In the four years I lived there i(68-72), they gave away three papers! Please send hearty cousin congratulations to John for me. My John is edging ever closer. Darrel, Diane, and I are all retired. Only Holly works anymore. That frees me up for more volunteer activity and I’m more busy than before with our church and pro-life work. The March for Life is coming up and we’re sending three full buses to it this year. It’s exciting connecting with the younger folks. I tell them they are the future of the PL movement. Blessings dear sister.
Wonderful! Have a ball. (I just gave Rob’s family big bucks to see Disney World for a week in Feb.)
Paul and I bought a used motor home to travel and see the country. Two weeks later we learned he was dying. Didn’t get much use of the motor home. Didn’t see much of the country.
I meant to respond to your article about Johnny but was somewhat overcome emotionally and also ill for several week with bronchitis and not full of energy. You write beautifully and I’m waiting for your book to come out! love, Timmie