The Unexpected Companion

Learning to live in a way you’ve never lived before—especially at my age—is a lesson in humility. All 69 of my years have been lived as if I could do just about anything I wanted. And truth be told, I’ve done most of it.

To start with, I’ve got a woman who’s put up with me for half of those 69 years. She’s never complained about my shortcomings as a husband. I don’t cook, I don’t clean… I could go on, but you get the idea.

I’ve also raised four children—two with my present wife, and two from a previous marriage back in Kentucky. I wish I could’ve done more for the two in Kentucky, but life doesn’t always unfold the way we hope it will.

I’ve tried to provide for both families the best I could over the years. Some would say we’ve done a pretty good job as parents. I’d like to think so too.

But age has a way of introducing the unexpected.

And lately, the unexpected has taken up residence as I approach my 70th trip around the sun. Let me introduce you to my new companion: degenerative disc disease.

Now that this uninvited guest has made itself at home in my aging body, it looks like we’ll be traveling together from here on out, wherever the road leads. And you know what? I accept that.

I’m grateful for whatever time I have left. And don’t worry—I’m not looking to cash in my ticket early. There’s still too much to see… and if I’ve learned anything by now, it’s that there’s always more of the unexpected waiting just around the bend.