Hometown Kidron: When I Grow Up

It was bound to happen. Although time seemed to move so slowly those many years ago when I was a boy hiking the trails along Hog Creek with my brothers and cousins, I was pretty sure—barring unforeseen circumstances—I would live to see this day. Always wondered how ancient I’d feel when I reached my sixties—if my hair (providing there was any left) would be gray or white, and how weathered and wrinkled my outer layer would be. Now I know.

There is no way to stop this process, and I am very thankful to my Maker that a combination of good genetics and clean living have preserved this aging carcass fairly well. We’re doing alright. Looking back fifty years, I’d probably not change too much. Never really had a hankering for making a lot of money or living high. Part of me says it would be fun to try it, but the better part of me is very grateful that I’ve never needed to go hungry. That is a huge blessing. No matter our lot in life, we should never take for granted the gifts of food, shelter, and love. Way too many people don’t have these things.

We’ve had a lot of fun along the way so far. Not expensive fun, but times and experiences that we wouldn’t trade for anything. One of the biggest highlights in life was when we pulled up stakes in our thirties and tried out farm life in Ohio’s Appalachia. Truth is, the memories from that period of life left such an impression on us, that the experiences have found their way onto paper, and someday I hope to share the stories in some form.

The top of the list though, is having the blessing of four wonderful children who enjoy coming home with their babies.

So I’m in no hurry to leave. It seems like a lot of fun to stick around and watch our progeny grow up. Maybe they’ll have a better idea—perhaps a sense of call—of what they want to do with their lives than I did, but it’s okay if they don’t. Some of us never find out what that is. One thing though, while I continue to recycle molecules of food and water, I’d like to do it with good health. I’ve learned some ways to work at that in the last while. Keep breathing. Keep moving. And don’t stop.

That’s my mantra. “Keep it up.” One foot in front of the other. Three miles, four miles, sometimes five, rarely only two. A lot of sweat, a few friendly waves, and some short, friendly conversations. The further I go, the more time I have to think. And that’s just about my favorite thing. Observe and think. Some walkers like to have ear buds in their ears, filling the time with music—perhaps helping to set the pace—or maybe listening to a podcast. They’re probably doing this because the walking isn’t fun for them, and they need to occupy their minds. Nothing wrong with that. At least they’re walking, or running.

I love to live in the present, and absorb whatever’s out there along Jericho and Zuercher. There’s no need to judge anyone else. It just seems others may be missing something—or someone. For me, this is a great time to open my eyes to what can be seen, as well as my heart to the “unseen”, and I’m never disappointed. I’ve often thought, my cathedral stretches from horizon to horizon, and there I meet with God.

No doubt about it though, there’s no way to avoid getting older. Wherever we are in our personal journey, let’s be thankful that we live to see another day. I put some of these thoughts to verse a while back. Maybe you can identify.

When I Grow Up

“When I grow up, I want to be……

A fireman, policeman, or sailor on the sea,”

Said the little boy as he rode his trike,

“But first I must learn to ride a bike.”

Wasn’t very long he was peddling that thing,

And pushing little brother on the backyard swing,

And mowing some lawns for a buck or two,

Still wondering about life….what will he do?

A doctor’s money sounds pretty inviting,

A jungle pilot….really exciting,

But for now he’s pickin’ those guitar strings,

And dreaming about girls dressed in pretty things.

Then he met the lady who won his heart,

A Swiss farm girl who was cute and smart,

Suddenly he knew what he wanted to be,

A man with a wife and a family.

The future was uncertain, but he didn’t really care,

As long as that beauty with the long blonde hair,

Stood beside him forever and loved him true,

That’s all that really mattered as they walked life through.

Get up in the morning, kiss his honey goodbye,

Work another hard day, how the years go by,

Maybe some day he will figure it out,

For now, loving and living is what life’s about.

Middle aged and balding, four people call him dad,

He is very grateful - things haven’t been that bad,

Life is happening as the clock ticks on.

Kids are growing up, and having babies of their own.

At times the man wonders what he might have been,

A missionary, inventor, or veterinarian,

But he knows down deep it makes no difference,

‘Cause life never will make perfect sense.

Grand-kids are growing up, time is moving so fast,

He ponders on things, and reflects on his past,

In his head he’s still young, and thinks occasionally,

When I grow up… I want to be…

When I grow up… I...

When I grow up…

Nah. Ain’t happening.

If I grew up… I wouldn’t be me.

From the small town of Kidron, Ohio, where the beautiful girls are hoping for a knight in shining armor to sweep them off their feet. And where the homely young men are almost too shy to talk to the girls, but somehow they manage, and love finds a way. And the next generation of cute little rosy-cheeked children will fill their home with laughter (and screams) and the grandparents will love their babies.

So long.

A few pics of Grandpa enjoying the Grand-kids.

Canoe adventure with son and grandson. Started on Sugar Creek near Kidron a couple summers ago, and fought our way around a lot of log-jams until reaching the Tuscarawas River. We're still traveling the Tusc, but next stop is Coshocton, Ohio where we will join up with the Muskingum River. So far we've just done day trips on Saturdays, picking up where we left off, but hoping for some over-night camping along the way to the Ohio River.