The first part of this story (chap 1-107), covers the years 1967-87. I wrote that from my perspective in 2009-2014, several decades later as I entered my mid-life. This second volume reflects my thinking in 2025 and covers the period of 1988-present. Now, from my viewpoint in my mid-70s, I have a broader perspective on all of this.
As I have picked up where I left off in telling this story, I have noticed that the wild and crazy rollercoaster ride of my earlier years has slowed. As a writer, I find the details of my mid-life less interesting. As a reader, you have probably noticed that the earlier narration had some zest to it as I recounted the unique, interesting, and somewhat humorous experiences. After our return from Zimbabwe in 1987, the events are more mundane and frankly, a bit boring!
Parenthood effected a more serious assessment of the meaning and purpose of life. When it was just Pegi and me, I could experiment — playfully chasing any shiny object. Once Abi showed up, I had to get real. It was no longer only a matter of my life with Pegi. We had to become more focused and intentional in our life decisions. We couldn’t experiment with Abi’s future. We had to get more serious about our life choices and their consequences.
So, what I am saying is that the following details are not that much fun for me to recount or for you to read. Yep, I see that! It isn’t that I have forgotten the details. I have a long list of them, but they seem unimportant in the scheme of things and a bit boring. They are just details—everyone has details! And, let’s be honest—now as I approach my 77th year, I can’t afford to take another couple of decades to get the story into writing! Although I would like to live to 120 as did Moses, I understand, “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”
Way back in 1969, when I was at the beginning of my quest for meaning and purpose in life [12 — Day 7 (May 1969) - Is There a Hangover from Prayer?], I encountered a senior citizen on the boardwalk of the Santa Cruz beach. I was 20—he was in his 70s. I don’t remember how we began talking, but he was kind and patient as I enthusiastically and somewhat frantically unloaded on him with a bunch of questions about seeking and following God.
I do remember how he responded to my eager intensity. He told me: “Don’t be in a hurry to be an old man!” What I heard from him was that the path is long and there is no rush to learn it all. Don’t race for the finish, but pace yourself one step at a time. I got a glimpse of the wisdom of his words although I still wanted to know everything immediately! His admonition has stuck with me all these years. Now that I am an old man, I hope to suggest a few lessons this old man has learned while walking this path through the years.
So, what should I write about? The plan is to highlight only significant events of the last four decades. I will attempt to make this interesting, but my intent is to focus on meaning more than activity. You will note a more serious tone and a shift of perspective from the physical/material (what) to the metaphysical (meaning) in my reflections. So, this won’t be so exciting and my facility at writing has diminished in recent years. But, maybe some of these words will stick with you.
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