The Datson B210 was blue with a stick shift that was a real stick, long and protruding from the floorboard. It had tires the size of today's spares, and it was old. But none of that stopped Jeff and me from a day trip to the beach. We were in high school, at least I was; he might have been in junior college by then. I don't really remember. Our alarm went off early, and after a bowl of Cheerios, we were headed east into the rising sun toward Pensacola.

We tanned and rode the surf and walked the shore. We drank canned cola and ate sandwiches, feet dangling over a pier. And I wish I remembered our conversation, because about 10 years later he'd be gone.

We rode the three hours home in the setting sun, windows down, salty hair whipping, and sun-soaked skin all tingly. The engine ran hot, so we backdrafted. Not sure I got the terminology right, and Jeff's no longer here to ask, but it's when you drive dangerously close to the 18 wheeler in front of you to catch his tail winds to give your engine a little help from a good buddy. Crazy thing is, it worked. The dashboard needle slowly stepped away from the H and no one got hurt.

Kids. The way of teenagers on the road to a big, independent life. And we were ready to grasp it all.

Yesterday I wondered for the first time what mom thought of our escapade, although I'm sure we didn't tell her about the backdraft thingy we did.

I thought of mom because yesterday, I handed keys to our newest vehicle to our 17 year old. Armed with a fresh oil change, two new tires, and his GPS, Adrian embarked on his first road trip alone, navigating his teenage way to the beach. He didn't need to backdraft, but he had a smart phone, which can bring its own tempting danger to the driver's seat.

Like his uncle and his mom from a generation ago, he made it safely to his destination. Except he left his reckless evidence on Facebook. That's when I remembered what I had forgotten from when I was his age: To grasp what's ahead of you, there's a little letting go of what's behind. At least he was a safe distance from the car in front of him.



Linking with LisaJo's 5 minute free-write. This weeks prompt: Grasp.

August 12, 2012

We returned yesterday from one of the best vacations we've ever had. We drove east for three hours and found ourselves at the edge of the earth with fishermen and sunbathers. We came home on Friday despite Mike's desire to stay til Saturday. Responsibility was calling.

So we left early and arrived home in time for lunch. We unpacked and began the laundry. But we extended our vacation with the Adventures of Tin Tin and ice cream crowded in our family room last night.

Suitcases had been tossed back into the attic on a miniature assembly line, and it's tempting to pack away most everything. But there's a few things I don't wan to put away after this simple family trip.

1. Adrian's music. Some of his tunes are making their way to my phone as we speak. They're energetic and motivational. The're invigorating and makes me happy.

2. Conversations just for the fun of it. Wish they could be in the middle of the ocean like they were last week, but they can happen in the middle of traffic or in the middle of loading the dishwasher.

3. Laughter. We had a lot of it at the beach. We need more of it at home.

4. Family devotion and family devotions. We have both at home, they just are much better when you aren't so aware of what time it is and don't have somewhere important to be.

5. Sunsets. They bring needed perspective if we're paying attention.

6. Time and space to explore. Routine, as necessary as it is, puts me on auto-pilot. I will fight for each day to be unique and abundant.

7. More magic. Delight and surprise is a wonderful response when things don't happen as you expected they would. We enjoyed the magic and illusions of Brandon Wagster, the son of old friends of ours. Worries and the cares of this world? Just an illusion -- so be of good cheer.

::

September 21, 2012

I'm not sure why I didn't post this when I wrote it. I've missed this writing place, but I've been busy writing elsewhere and trying to fit in the items on my list up there. Sometimes the writing of it has to give way to the living of it because that's all that's all there's time for.