About four days ago, after a hurried morning and afternoon, trying to make deadlines, and all the yada, yada, my husband and I were finally on the way back home.  For some reason, these days my new found words are “Hurry, hurry, we are going to be late!”

This is ironic!  I think my husband is giving me the side eye every time I say those words.  For years throughout our 38 years of marriage, I am the habitually late one.  Not really late, but what are 15 minutes (just trying to get the last little something done)!

Well, this day, we were driving hurriedly, and I thought “Wouldn’t it be awful if we never took a side road or a detour.  If I didn’t take alternate routes,  my whole life would be concrete highways!”  All of the places that I frequent could all be reached by driving frantically on a concrete roadway.  That would be so sad.  That was the initial start of Mommy and Me:  Going Where the Wind Takes Us; getting lost on some back road in Florida trying to get to a mall (facepalm) and deciding we’d go where the wind takes us.

Exploring less traveled roads has always been part of my life. I remember a poster in my teenage decorated bedroom:  “I march to the beat of a different drummer.”  Well, it is no different now.  I march to the beat of a different drummer.

About five years ago, I began looking for new ways to work and express myself.  I tried doing what I did for the last 30 years.  I had put in so much grit, dedication, and education to the cause.  However, other things were in store for me.  I wanted to get off the crisscrossing of the concrete highways.  I began my search and I finally found IT!

Not IT but the real IT.  It was something I wanted to do for a long time.  It put a spring in my step, helped me learn new ideas; IT would make a huge difference in our communities; IT was a good cause becoming a great one.

Today, I’m a Del Mar Encore Fellow at Learn to Earn.  Encore is a movement that promotes having a second or third career in our older years.  (What’chu talking about Willis?!  I am not sure how I got to be an Older American, but we will chat about that later.)  Anyhow, May is Older American Month.  The Dayton Foundation created this video to give you a glimpse into what older Americans are involved in.

Take a peek and be sure to share.  (Look for the big smiling face and talking and you will find me.)

May Spotlight to Our Region’s Older Adults

Yes, I did it!  I went to where the wind was taking me and see where I landed!  Relax and enjoy life.  Stop and really do smell the roses.  Take a detour; take a side street.  Look up and see what’s ahead.  Always make it a super day!

Mommy