TURNING 60

IVE LUGGED IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS MADE FEEBLE ATTEMPTS AT YODELING IN THE HIGHEST PEAK IN SWITZERLAND CONDOLED THE VENETIAN CHANNELS OF VENICE. WALTZED AT MIDNIGHT IN THE PIZZA ST MARCO WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE STATUTE OF LIBERTY, WASHINGTON MONUMENT, LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND PRAISED A GREAT NATION, SAT ---PERCHED AT THE TOP FLOOR OF THE TWIN TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ONLY TO WATCH IN HORROR THE COLLAPSE OF A SECURE NATION A YEAR LATER WALKED THE PAUL REVERE TRAIL, LEARNING THE SACRIFICES MADE FOR OUR FREEDOMS. SAT AT THE EDGE OF THE GRAND CANYON TO WATCH A SPECTACULAR SUNSET AND ADMIRED THE WORKS OF GOD LIT A CANDLE AND SAID THE HAIL MARY AT THE WORLDS GREATEST CATHEDRALS ST PAUL, NORTE DAME, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LISBON, AND ST PETERS IN VATICAN.CITY STOOD IN THE GREAT CHAMBER OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL ASTONISHED AT ITS GRANDEUR DETAIL AND COLORS. LOOKED WITH WONDER AT THE SCULPTURE OF THE VIRGIN AND BABY JESUS DEPICTED IN THE PIETA. STOOD AT THE FOOT OF MICHAEL ANGELOS DAVID AND

THE PRISONERS IN THE ACADEMIA IN FLORENCE ---PONDERED A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FINDING ONLY DEVINE INSPIRATION. KAYAKED CINQUE TERRE IN THE LIGURIAN SEA ON THE ITALIAN RIVERA PUSHED MY NATURAL INSTINCTS TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF THE LEANING TOWER OF PIZA. SIPPED WARM DARK LAGER IN PUBS OF LONDON AND BEER GARDENS OF GERMANY PUSHED BACK A PINT OR TWO OF GUINNESS AT THE BREWERY IN DUBLIN IRELAND, LUNCHED AT CORTINA IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES PICNIC ON THE RIVER INN AT INNSBRUCK VISITED THE POPES SUMMER HOME AT LAKE COMA COLLECTED A PASSPORT STAMP IN LIECHTENSTEIN SAT WITH MY FAMILY --- IN RIGHT FIELD AT FENWAY TO SEE ONE GO OUT OVER THE GREEN MONSTER----- HAD A KNISH AT YANKEE STADIUM IN THE BRONX, HUDDLED IN THE COLD AT WRIGLEY TO SEE THE GIANTS BEAT THE CUBS. DROWN GOLF BALLS AT THE MOST FAMOUS GOLF COURSES OF THE WORLD ST ANDREWS, PEBBLE BEACH, DISNEYWORLD, TORREY PINES, SPANISH BAY. HAD MANY MEMORABLE ROUNDS WITH MY FATHER BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY . RACED AROUND A TRACK IN A NASCAR STOCK---- GOING 160 MPH MISSING THE WALL BY INCHES REPELLED SIXTEEN STORIES IN AN ISOLATED CAVE IN NORTHERN CAL.

DOVE IN FULL SCUBA GEAR IN THE CAYMANS, BAHAMAS AND COSOMEL SWAM WITH THE TIGER AND REEF SHARKS. IN THE BRIGHT TURQUOISE WATER OF THE CARIBBEAN TASTED WINES IN FRANCE, SPAIN, AZORES AND ALL OVER THE WORLD --, ONLY TO FINE THE BEST WINES 20 MINUTES FROM HOME IN NAPA VALLEY SIPPED MINT JULEPS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER OF NEW ORLEANS. CONSUMED A SHOT OF KENTUCKY WHISKEY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS. CLIMBED THE STAIRS OF BARCELONA LA FAMILLIA. WATCHED MY CHILDREN TOUCH THE CRACKED BELL OF FREEDOM IN PHILIDILLA ATTENDED A BULL FIGHT IN MADRID, ATTACHED MYSELF TO HEMINGWAY MEMORIES WITH TAPAS AND BEER AT HIS FAVORITE BAR IN GRANDA NEAR THE ALHAMBRA GOT LOST IN PARIS SAILED THE TRANSATLANTIC AND MADE A STAB AT SEEING ALL THE COUNTRIES WITH LAND IN THE NAME- SCOTLAND, IRELAND ENGLAND ICELAND GREENLAND SWITZERLAND NETHERLANDS. TESTED MY PERCEPTIONS OF REALITY IN THE DALI MUSEUM IN FUGERIES SPAIN WHILE THE PENNING OF TRAVELS ARE COLORFUL AND INSIGHTFUL

NOTHING COMPARES TO THE GRATIFYING AND SATISFYING JOURNEY I HAVE HAD WITH MY FAMILY A GRAND MOTHER WHOS WARM SMILE TOLD ME AT AN EARLY AGE ----- SHE BELIEVED IN ME WHEN SOME DOUBTED TWO LOVING PARENTS WHO UNDERSTOOD GROWING PAINS AND WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO FAIL A WIFE WHO AFTER NEARLY 40 YEARS STILL AMAZES ME. WHO CAN MAKE MY DAY JUST BY HOLDING MY HAND. HOLDING TWO BABIES IN MY ARMS AND THINKING HOW BLESSED I AM TO HAVE LOVING CHILDREN. WHILE AT 60 I HAVE LIVED A GREAT DEAL OF MY LIFE. I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF LIFE LEFT TO LIVE.