New Year
new "hills" to climb
or just the old ones
at my age sometimes
I long for flat ground
maybe a gentile slope
preferably slightly up hill
but it is what it is
If it is a steep uphill
I'll plod on
slowly but onward
If a steep downhill
it is what it is
you don't always
get to choose your path
you only get to choose
your response to it

Winter has come a knocking again
Calendar says Winter is still 
a few weeks away
but here....obviously
Winter can't read
or rather can't be bothered
with what should be
but rather with what is
Life is like that
we'd like to see
what's to come
we'd like to plan
our days, our years, our lives
and sometimes that works out
in the way we wanted
but Life....like Winter
has a "mind" of it's own
and sometimes with both
we don't get what we want
but sometimes we get
what we needed
even when we don't want it
and sometimes we get
what we deserve....
But Life and Winter remain
and we have to learn
to deal with what they bring....

Darkness falls early
this time of year
days keep getting shorter
nights keep getting longer
there is a growing bite to the winds
the leaves are changing their colors
and soon to be blow hither and yon
and all too soon to be covered
in blankets of snow
and tho I dread it's coming
Winter as with all seasons
is just one visible sign
of the circle of life
but as I approach
the "winter" of my life
I must admit....
I yearn for Spring
yet a few more times 

a brisk morning walk late summer. early fall
crisp and clean my kind of weather
and I wondered when was the last time
the last time i enjoyed a walk so much
and I started musing about last times
We usually remember first times
some with fondness, some with regrets
some with joy, and some with sorrow
or simply I glad that's over with
but what about last times, we all have them
At my age I probably have more then most
people I will never see again
some of these I look back on with fondness
but also with loss and sadness
others I look back on and think, good
 they're out of my life, knock wood
also things that circumstances have taken away
whether from age, location, health,
the fact that place, time, opportunity
is out of reach or just isn't there anymore
but I must not dwell any longer on last times
there are still some first times left
and hopefully some next times as well

Summer's heat
it's humidity
the thunder storms
I can live with out
But Autumn is coming
I love Autumn
the cooler weather
the flights of geese
winging the way south
even their "honks"
the color of the season
the trees showing
their true colors
I've always loved Autumn
I played soccer
ran some cross-country
the last few rounds of golf
and then there is
Thanksgiving, a great meal
fellowship with the family
only one draw back
to my beloved Autumn
Winter is just around the corner 

I'm number #1...We're number #1
my response: "I don't care"
there some that must always win
but with them it's not enough to just win
every one else must lose
I strive to be better every day
but not so I can win and others lose
I strive to be better every day
so I'm just that...better every day
The only person I need to compete with
that I must get better than
is the person I was yesterday

Life moves on
as does the clock
I have far more yesterdays
then I do tomorrows
but rather then in fear
I look forward
with anticipation
as to what still has to come
the past is just
well the past
can't be re-written
as it were chipped in stone
but the future
however long
or short
is still a blank page
and I look forward
to what is to be
what is yet to come

(to the tune of  "Summertime")

Summertime
and the weather is humid
Summertime
and I'm sweating like heck
Summertime
and misquotes are coming
Summertime
one is biting my neck
Summertime
I'd rather be indoors
with my AC
and maybe a cold six pack

Spring is here.......finally
Winter clothes
put away for awhile
grass is green
trees are budding
and the dandelions
are well doing
what dandelions do
the geese are back
with little ones in tow
but so are the seagulls
doing what they do
which I wish they won't
but even in the best of times
a little rain must fall
but as of right now
take the bad
with the good
and in balance
the good wins out
and at least it ain't winter