The days seemed to melt together this week. It’s been the busiest I’ve been in retirement. I’ve taken time to watch the Ken Burns Country Music documentary, but between episodes it’s been run, pack, load, and unload. The running part has nothing to do with moving on this my 3,925th consecutive day. Soon, I’ll be mapping out a new downtown route, and leaving behind the neighbors who follow similar predictable routines every morning. I’ll miss the people, school buses, and dogs, along with an occasional deer, that cross my path each day in a clockwork-like fashion.

I couldn’t remember if I went to the mailbox yesterday, or if it was the day before? I’m no longer waking up to a 6 a.m. alarm, so there’s less familiar faces along my running route, while next week I’ll be starting a whole new pattern. It’s a little over a month until time change, and sleeping habits will change once again. These are variations that make running every day more challenging. Later next week, I have an early morning flight, so I’ll be cutting the distance and navigating in the dark. It will be interesting to see the new neighborhood in the really early hours. Better yet, it will be a relief getting all this moving out of the way.

Speaking of routines, I’m going to miss getting mad about the Cubs. Baseball is a great retirement sport, with games every afternoon to keep me entertained. Football is more of a weekend and evening sport that takes me away from being an attentive husband. After moving three loads in my car, I deserved some sports-time, and enjoyed watching the Eagles beat up on the Packers. Fellow I.U. grad, Jordan Howard scored an Eagles touchdown, after two years of following him with the Bears. Last night, he helped the Bears’ cause.

Oops! I drifted off into sports, a subject that not everyone who reads this blog appreciates. This is why I categorize my posts, so that you few readers can follow the areas that interest you most. Admittedly, I’m a sports fan, but the teams that I follow are often losers, with little appeal to the masses. I also like to write and do poems about pets, adoption, retirement hassles, and running. My mood changes day-to-day, so you’ll always find a variety of interests.

I’m obviously avoiding having to talk about a friend’s recent death. A few days ago I had to address the topic of Cancer that affected another good friend. (See Post #1077). I feel especially remorseful about this loss because I was responsible for bringing him from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Indianapolis to work for me at the TV station. I followed a similar career route from a smaller community to a bigger city, that is typical of the media business. He met his wife and had children once he got established in Indy, but faced a kidney transplant. My wife was even tested to be a donor. After extensive absence from work, he elected to sue the company we worked for rather than accept his fate. Most of us disagreed with this decision that ultimately alienated all my fellow co-workers. It was the end of both a friendship and working relationship. In the meantime, we moved out of town and never reconciled. I felt responsible for hiring him and consider him my greatest hiring casualty. Now, he’s dead and I’ve lost track of his family.

I have yet to find an obituary, but I have to believe that his life was cut short because of the transplant.
I still wonder if I made a mistake by following the corporate line, rather than supporting his decision to sue following dismissal? I was not involved in the actions to take away his job, and I’m sure he did what he had to do to protect his family. He was a jovial addition to my staff, adding some diversity to our organization. He quickly befriended his co-workers, but things changed dramatically when his health was threatened. Once again, a good life can be quickly ruined by illness. May he rest in peace!

I’m starting to lose more and more acquaintances that have played a role in my life. I can’t explain why some of us seem to attract bad health while others like myself somehow avoid this destiny. I would like to believe that my daily exercise keeps the doctor away, but I know it’s not that simple. Genetics and environmental issues play an important role in good health. I’m fortunate, especially when I see where others that I’m close to are not. The million dollar question is “why me?”

Ironically,The Judds are singing their classic country hit, “Why not me?” in the background as I approach the end of the documentary. It’s an appropriate way to put the finishing touches on this post:

“Why not me on a rainy day?
  Why not me to love your cares away?
  Why not me?
  Why not me when the nights get cold?
  Why not me when you’re growin’ old?
  Why not me?”