In our travels as followers of the Minstrel of Margaritaville, there were many traveled miles, laughs, hugs, different flavors of Jell-o, spins of the blender, bowls of gumbo and jambalaya, friends made, and lyrics of songs that we could/can definitely relate to, and always rely on, if situations arise/arose that warranted both.

As I think about my next celebration of my entrance into this world in three days, there was a song he performed often, once recorded with Country/Western Star, Martina McBride, that intensifies my pondering of matching the year of my high school graduation, (Class of ’71), with my upcoming age next Tuesday. (I’m glad I didn’t graduate in ’98 or ’99, lol.)

The title of that song is Trip Around the Sun, and the lyrics sing…

“Here I’m singin’ happy birthday

Better think about the about the wish I make

This year gone by ain’t been a piece of cake

Everyday’s a revolution

Pull it together and it comes undone

Just one more candle and a trip around the sun

I’m just hangin’ on while this old world keeps spinning

And it’s good to know it’s out of my control

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all this livin’

Is that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go

No you never see it comin’

Always wind up wonderin’ where it went

Only time will tell if it was time well spent

It’s another revelation

Celebrating what I should have done

With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun

I’m just hangin’ on while this old world keeps spinning

And it’s good to know it’s out of my control

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all this livin’

Is that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go

Yes I’ll make a resolution

That I’ll never make another one

Just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun

Just enjoy this ride”

I can’t recall the number of times I’ve thought about the wishes I’ve made each year, especially from the beginning of the second half of chronological years I’ve been around. There are some of those years, it wasn’t a piece of cake, for a number of reasons, but then I concluded, despite that, I was still grateful that all those years happened.

I can’t remember all the times I thought I had everything all together, but it often came undone and I had to review, re-plan, and rework things, and concluded that I was happy I still had the chances to do so. I often wonder about all those things that I didn’t plan for, that I didn’t see coming, and the time that has passed so quickly, and the wonderment of where it went, and then I’ve thought of all the positives I’ve had in my life and weighed the good and bad wondering if my time on this earth has been well spent. I’ve concluded that it most definitely has.

I often think about the revelations of my life, and the celebrations others have shared with me, and how I cherish the many wonderful souvenirs (memories) of my life.

And I’ve often felt I’m hanging on as my world continues to spin, sometimes out of control, and was/am I able to stay in control, or did/do I have to come to the conclusion from all my living, that things wouldn’t have been any different if I had just let go. I, like most people, would like to think they would be different for the better, and I was able to make some kind of difference in my time on this planet.

So, as I complete the end of this latest trip around the sun, and begin a new one, I hope I can continue my journey, hopefully doing some good for the people in my life, in the situations, and roles I’ve undertaken on my journey of life. If I can do that, I’ll definitely keep enjoying this ride.

Thanks to all of you who’ve made it an amazing journey, be you who’ve been with me in the longevity of my life, or maybe in certain select settings we’ve shared, or one whose path has crossed briefly with mine. Thanks to those of you with whom I’ve shared fundraisers, classrooms, schools, dugouts, sidelines and, buses. Thanks to you with whom I’ve have shared parking lot parties, or conversations at ballparks, restaurants, bars, churches, supermarkets, gyms, or just on street corners waiting for a light to change. Thank you for being a part of all, many, some, a few, or even just one of those trips around the sun I’ve taken.