There goes another one.
Lascassas, Tennessee December 31-- As the last sand runs out on 2003, I am sitting here in Middle Tennessee looking out at bright sunshine. The temperature is around 55, and probably hasn't peaked yet. I would like to close out the year with a short scooter ride, but alas, all of my scooters are 150 miles to the east.
I prefer not to spend too much time looking back, as this year has been particularly depressing at times. It's more fun to look to the future. 2004 is the year that our two 18-year-old grandchildren will start college. By sheer coincidence, they both plan a career in medicine and both expect to attend the same college for the first two years. Later, they will transfer to a university, probably the University of Tennessee.

At the other end of the scale, our youngest grandson will begin first grade in the fall. He is already good with numbers and recognizes some words. Back when he was still in the one-word-at-time phase, (not yet two-years-old) I remember offering him a cookie. He took it and held out the other hand saying "Two of 'em." Not only did he take a giant leap toward sentences, he also showed an aptitude for math. His kindergarten teacher says he is a leader, but I think she might mean ringleader.

My 72-year-old sister is planning to get married soon. Somehow that makes me feel younger.

Tripping in 2004
As always we have lots of trips in the planning stage. Two trips to Alaska wasn't enough. We still need to see Denali. Hawaii is always near the top of the list and it has been more than a year since we have been there. We finally made our dream trip to the Panama Canal, so now we are developing some new dreams. For example, cruises to South America, Canada's maritime provinces, and the Mediterranean. Our non-cruise dreams include London with a train trip to Scotland, Florida's Gulf Coast, Northern California, and The Four Corners region, possibly as part of a cross country car trip.

There are always those unexpected trips that pop up. Sometimes they are fun. Like the time our daughter called and said that they had booked a cruise, and why didn't we come along? Within a week we were cruising the Caribbean. We got a good deal by booking at the last minute.

Also on the front burner is a trip to a scooter meet in Texas. And camping and hiking in the Smokies.

In between, I expect to spend a lot of time marveling at my own good fortune. I grew up poor, and when my wife and I had three children and very little disposable cash, we traveled the cheapest way possible. That was camping by car maybe once or twice a year. In 1970, I felt like our 5-week journey to San Francisco, LA, Yellowstone and home was the trip of a lifetime, but we have surpassed that a few times.

So come on, 2004. I'm ready for you, and I'm expecting a lot.
Howard