So here we are together again. The Old Man walked a lot today. Not that he doesn’t focus on walking each day…but today was golden for steps. Cool, cloudy weather is his thing. Life beckons, and the Old Man must go.

As I stood in line at Louie’s P and R in Herrin, an old man about my age said that if he had known he was going to live as long as he has, he would have taken better care of himself. He went on to say that he had just had an MRI, and he would find out how well he was doing. We, old folks, see the doctor more often. A secret to a happy life is an active life. If you can do the activities that you enjoy, all the better.

So we find ourselves in the midst of troubling times. Our parents had the same conundrum. Their parents as well. Time to dive into the cloudy confines and live life. Surprise awaits us around the next corner. There it stands with a leather Outback hat and a big smile. We try to be ready, but we are never ready. That is the adventure of the journey.

Summer has taken the theme. A month of spring to go, but summer now dominates. In my neck of the woods, June, July, and August are summer. Brock and Marcy are coming, and we, the Illinois Brooks, are excited at the prospect. We will tell tall tales and play games. Laugh until our sides hurt. We have laid the charcuterie board, and it is magnificent. We like a good charcuterie board.

‘The swimming and picnic at Pounds Hollow will be wonderful,’ Jane said. ‘We have waited all winter for this,’ Jane continued. ‘This year will be the best I have taken swimming lessons and am eager to use what I have learned,’ Jane exclaimed! ‘The swimsuit costume party will be a blast,’ Jane noted.

‘The costumes are to be 1920s swimwear,’ Chet laughed. ‘It looks a bit different from our 1960s swim clothes,’ Chet continued. ‘The promoter of the event says that the 1920s swimming clothes will transport us back to the Roaring Twenties,’ Chet smiled.

‘Come quick, where is the 57 Chevy?’ Neva J said with a laugh. ‘The cars in the parking lot are from the 1920s,’ Neva J observed.

‘It sure is foggy on the road home,’ Billy B observed. ‘What is awaiting us around the next bend in the road? I feel like we are still in the 1920s,’ Billy B continued. ‘Did we go through the Time Tunnel like the television show?’ Billy B asked. ‘This vintage car runs well if a bit bumpy,’ Billy Bob observed.