“Looking At The Clouds”

Flagstaff AZ this mornng

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”  And it is snowing here in Flagstaff this morning! Fortunately we do not have to be on the road today or tomorrow.  We can simply relax, enjoy, and watch winter’s artistic touch upon the pines here in the Coconino National Forest and on the slopes of Mt. Eldon.  Our adventuring RV (Odysseus) is cozy and warm and has within it all the amenities we need to be comfortable.  It is 29° at the moment and 1-3 inches of snow is expected throughout the day.  Not all that bad! The snow will not prevent us from visiting with Luke, Kim, Ethan and Eleni later on.  Our campground is only about 5 minutes from their home.

When Eleni heard in January that we would be coming to visit in February, she became very excited. In her excitement and anticipation of our visit she drew a picture of us together.  (I’m glad her Dad saved it for us to see). I was very impressed with her artistic ability (after all, she is my granddaughter) and just had to take a photo and share.

Eleni's Drawing: Grandad, Eleni, Ethan & Grandmom

When Nikos Kazantzakis was a young man, a neighbor said to his father, “…I think your son’s going to become a dreamer and visionary,…He’s always looking at the clouds.”  His mother responded, “Don’t worry, life will come along and make him lower his gaze.”  And his father had the last word, “Forget the clouds.  Keep your eyes on the stones beneath you if you don’t want to fall and kill yourself.”  In spite of life’s stoney paths and the necessity to lower one’s gaze so as not to trip, there is must always be room to look at the clouds. 

One of the benefits of being liberated (retired) and coming into senior maturity is the ability to look back (and most older folk look back far too much, including your’s truly) and realize that you spent far too many days gazing downward at the rocks, and too many years letting life lower your gaze, when you should have been “looking at the clouds.” In this chapter of my life, my grandchildren have helped me look more at the clouds and to look forward at threescore ten plus four rather than backward.  My advice to the following generations is to be “always looking at the clouds,” even while “gazing downward at the rocks.”