Ten. 10. X. Just ten words changed my life from routine to chaotic. The cowboy suggested, “Why don’t you sell your house and move to Montana?” Oh, boy Could ten little words really make such a difference?
Writing books and blogs, I deal with words all the time and didn’t really consider that they change my life much, but these ten words did, from a relatively neat household to one covered with boxes and packing paper and not knowing where anything is. I’ve been in Montana exactly two weeks and can’t find anything. I could write a list of things I’ve lost, everything from my glasses to my passwords (don’t get me started!). I’ve also lost my sense of direction, and north is now west, and south is east making the sunsets and sunrises a mystery.
But if I’m going to write about what I’ve lost, I also need to mention what I’ve gained and those are the things that I want to focus on today. Change brings about energy, and my energy level is over the top, new things to do, people to see, and someone to hug at the end of the day (that would be the dog, Cody, but Cowboy Bob might get hugged, too). I’ve seen a few deer, birds of all colors, and sunsets that knock my socks off. I’ve gained a sense of purpose, caring for someone and having him care for me. I gained some memories…a boat trip on the lake, some little children (the cowboy’s great-grandkids), and can now identify the entire Cardinal’s team, (Lars Nootbaar is my favorite player, with Pujols close behind). I’ve always loved baseball, but I had placed it on hold for several years, until I got to Montana and had someone to watch it with.
I’ve gained a good sense of anticipation, looking forward to events and adventures, wondering how we can fit them into our already busy schedule. It looks like a couple road trips: to see my Marine Corps grandson and his bride in DC, to check out warm places for winter excursions (it gets cold in Montana, in case you haven’t heard), and to visit some places we haven’t seen before. I’ve gained an appreciation of a simpler life without traffic jams, people giving me the single finger salute, and the constant drone of Thursday morning’s lawn-mowing parade.
Cowboy Bob and I are going to a baseball game tonight and he said something about submarine races on the Yellowstone River that we can park and watch as we return to my new home. Sounds like an adventure. I am not sure about submarine races though, because it sounds more like the snipe hunts that boys talked about in high school. But, what the heck, they were fun, too.
And now, my house is up for sale, which has given me nostalgia. I lived in Boise for twenty-one years and in my Plantation house for fourteen. I loved my house, everything about it, the layout, my yard, my neighbors, its closeness to shopping and events. In the past two years, I spent time (and money) upgrading it, and it was difficult to leave. But it was just a house. A structure. And now I am building a new life and am happy that I heard and responded as I did to those ten simple words. My life’s routine has changed, but I haven’t, and I plan to continue what I do, writing and planning adventures. I hope you will join me!
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