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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

I am excitingly close to retirement; will be going home to Heartwood on 
September 9th to get it back to the condition where I left it four years 
ago, get the shop building started, then back here to Phoenix for the worst 
part of the winter, then Chris will go with me back to Heartwood in time 
for the redbud-and-dogwood extravaganza. Then presumably starts the 
happily-ever-after part, subject to revisions by Momma Nature and other 
strong forces, but most strongly directed by the homestead philosophy.

So I've lately been feeling both excited and contemplative. Happened across 
this oldie but goodie* again, which now I will take the time to share with 
those who have not read it before and with those who have read it but 
perhaps would profit by a rereading:

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd dare to make more mistakes next 
time. I'd relax. I'd limber up. I'd be sillier than I've been this trip. I 
would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances, I would take 
more trips, I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat 
more ice cream and less beans. I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles 
but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who was sensible 
and sane, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments. If I had it to do over again, I'd have more of 
them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else--just moments, one after 
another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one 
of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water 
bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I could do it again, I would travel 
lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring 
and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances, I would 
ride more merry-go-rounds, I would pick more daisies."
--Nadine Stair

* http://www.benjaminrossen.com/DAISIES/html/daisies_06.htm