“But if you know what is good for you then you’ll adjust the pack which once so lightly rested on your shoulders and take the first step into whatever betides.”

As he aged, my father became afraid. He was afraid of EVERYthing, and desperately did not want to rock the boat. He and my mother were afraid to change a doctor’s appointment because the doctor might get mad at them. They were afraid to change out their old wall-hanging telephone because the phone company might get mad at them.

As a result, I am determined not to allow fear to become a factor in my maturity (such as it might be). Bette Davis said that “old age is not for sissies”, but my motto is “never *not* do something because something bad *might* happen”. Otherwise said, “I promise not to learn from my mistakes.”

Always always always — onwards. Upwards. Outwards. Taking roadtrips to where the terrorists bloom in the spring.