Today, I begin another writing journey – a different story. Since retirement I have had difficulty finding reasons to write each day. I can find lots of projects to do to keep busy but I have lost my impetus to write. I haven’t been writing much lately. I can’t seem to find a narrative thread to hang my life story on to. I need a muse. When you work in a school for 38 years there are plenty of things to write about because stuff is always happening and there are so many interesting people – students, staff, families. And when people get together issues happen, stories happen. There was always lots to write about. Now, I have to make things up.

John Dewey, educator, librarian extraordinaire, once said something like the following about teaching writing: All the difference lies between having to write something and having something to write about.

I decided to just write about something. One of the things I do each day is drive somewhere to do something in my Volvo C30. I enjoy driving my C30. I really love driving to find blue skies. This is probably not correct in this day and age of limited resources but I cannot deny my feelings about it. I just love driving in my C30 somewhere.

I try to make sure that I am doing something worthwhile, like the today. I wanted to pick up some supplies in Vancouver for my Judo club; return a kitchen sink to Costco; and practice golf. Most importantly, I wanted to meet Alanna and play with my grandson Wade. I also wanted to do something about the mice that keep hiding out in the carport. They are now eating at some of the plastic parts in the engine compartment. One day I found a tea bag under the hood. I can imagine them having a party on top of the engine.

Around 8:30a I hopped in my Volvo C30 and set my gps to look for the Mikado Martial Arts Supply store in Vancouver. I packed the sink and my golf clubs. I managed to get the clubs and the kitchen sink into the back of the C30. The C30 is a quirky looking car. The front half looks great. The backside looks to be a little cut off. A little too short. But, it fits my life style and needs. It seems to mirror the quirky looks of its owner.

The golf clubs and the sink fit quite nicely. I doubt that I could have done this with another small car or sedan. So, packed and I headed out to Vancouver. Each time I hop into my C30 I think how much I enjoy driving it. It has enough pep to merge onto highways without a struggle. It is quiet inside so I can listen to my favourite tunes and programs.

I realized that Mikado might not be open until 9:30 so I wondered what to do with the time. I had done a search the night before and did not remember the store hours. I took a quick look at my phone and sure enough it doesn’t open until 9:30. I decided to search for a Starbucks. I had a few gift cards from Christmas to use anyways. The Magellan GPS lists the coffee shops along the way. It will also list the Starbucks. I pull over to search for the nearest Starbucks. As usual, there is one nearby. I drive by the Mikado and around the corner to the Starbucks on Powell Street. I go to the drive through window and order a peppermint latte. I guess not many people order one. I get a quick bemused look from the server followed by a look of “okay, sounds good” and off the young lady goes to make my latte. Tastes great. Very refreshing. I drive off figuring my way through the complexity of one way streets and off ramps to get to the Mikado that was just a couple of blocks away. I have way more patience for looking for places than I ever did in my younger days.

At Mikado I order the Judogi and belts for the club. There are no sizes small enough for Wade so I order the Karate uniform instead. Karate uniforms are not as thick as Judo uniforms because there is less grappling. But, it should do for now. I pay for the supplies and watch a young, fit man trying out some hitting gloves. I am kind of sad about the Judo part of my life. Right now I cannot do all the things I was able to do even a short few years ago. In to my mid 50s I could spar with any of my Judo students no matter their age or size. I could have sparred with the young man in the store. Now at 60, I cannot even do a proper break fall. The last 5 years have taken its toll. I never thought that my body would grow old so quickly. I was hoping to teach Wade how to do Judo. Now, I am not sure if I will be able to more than cheer him from the side lines.

I make my way to Costco. I need new tires. I probably have 1/2 year at most left on these tires. I’m down to 4/32 and 5/32 of tread left on the tires. I hope it doesn’t snow. I keep wondering if I should go to the Volvo dealership or go to some discount tire outlet or to Costco. Costco seems to be cheapest place but the dealership did such good work balancing my tires after fixing a flat for me and they did it for free. I think the dealership might take better care with the work. But, I could save probably $25 per tire at Costco. I need to find out if the Costco deal included the tire stems as well. I hope I can remember to do this on my next visit to Costco. In the end, I will probably go to the dealership for peace of mind. In my younger days when the family was young I would have gone to Costco just to save the money.

I really love writing as a way to keep my thoughts coherent and to organize my life. I will keeping going down this road for a while until I sort out my retirement life. And, one has to write to get better at writing. Writing is also good therapy for me. Writing about my thoughts and worries help to resolve so many things that I am wondering or conflicted about.

Now, that I have started this journey I can think of many places and routes to go to. I will always be looking for blue skies…

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