Sometimes Its As Simple As Just Taking A Ride

As many of you know I lost my dad back in February to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Mom took wonderful care of dad and even as his disease progressed she insisted on being his primary caregiver even when it meant her health suffered. We were also very blessed in the fact that we had wonderful family, friends and medical staff that pitched in to help in so many ways so that daddy was able to stay at home. My mom and dad had been married for 63 years.

Lets face it, getting old sucks. And those of us who can still get out, get around, and go wherever we want take that freedom for granted. I have a thousand things going on, I am a little stressed, I am trying to get everything done, and mom comes in my door. My first reaction? It irritates the crap out of me! Doesn’t she know I’m busy? Doesn’t she realize I have things to do?

The answer is no, she doesn’t. She is coming to visit her daughter and granddaughter to see how their day is going, to see what they are doing, and just to visit because she is lonely and “restless” as she puts it and just needs the reassurance that we are here. Some days are better than others. Most days she is fine, talkative (even though we may hear the same story over and over), and upbeat. But she also has the not-so-good days. And whatever kind of day she is having she doesn’t need a daughter who is so preoccupied with her work that she forgets that she has the bigger and much more important responsibility of taking care of her family.

Daily I have to remind myself that most of the things I am stressing over are very unimportant. So I make a conscious effort to be more understanding and patient when I am in that stress whirlwind and mom walks through my door.

A few weeks ago I was going to check cattle one afternoon and picked mom up to ride with me. We ended up taking a pretty good little ride on the back roads, counting deer, reminiscing about how places have changed and mom wondering “Who lives there now?”. She loved the ride and kept saying that she was having fun! So we have made the ride a two to three evening per week date. I am pretty sure it is as good for me as it is for her.

My point? In this busy journey that we call life, never forget that there are a lot of important, meaningful things that we let slip by because we are so focused on trying to “get ahead”. Don’t get caught in the trap! Enjoy your loved ones, follow your dreams (we are never too old!), pause each day to thank God for this beautiful place we live in and for all of His blessings, take in the sunrise, relax, and make a commitment to yourself to really live life before it fades away.

It doesn’t take much. Sometimes its as simple as just taking a ride.