Sacred Moments In The Fall Of Life

We'll start with this... but that's not where it started...
It is Fall again… It is early Fall here in Meigs County, Ohio… for some of us in our lives, it is already late Fall. I was talking to my friend Jerry’s Mom, Shirley. Shirley is almost 89 and she said to me, ‘Jorma, I wouldn’t mind a second go round but I guess that’s not the way it is.’ Yeah, you start thinking about how time just slips through your fingers… Like water… like a will ‘o’ the wisp…You see it, you feel it, you live it… and then it is gone. It is so hard to realize how precious life is when you’re young, and yeah, I get it… it’s just one of those things you take for granted. I sure did. Now, it’s every gosh darned day. If not now… never…
This was our Pick And Putt (motorcycles, not golf) weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch. Our fifteenth year. At 75 I’m still able to ride with a modicum of vigor, and yes, sanity. I rode my first motorcycle at 13 and it has been a part of my life ever since. Thursday before the camp at the FPR, some friends on two wheels met up here at the Ranch and we set out for a 200 mile ride.

The eagles gather at the Ranch...
We headed up north through McConnelsville and would up at Seneca Lake east of Zanesville.

Time for a burger at the boathouse
One of the guys had a minor mechanical problem, but we were almost home, so it was all good.
Camp started on Friday with David Wolff, Steve Kimock, Bobby Vega, Myself and Tom Feldmann ably and creatively assisting me. Good times indeed!
Saturday night after the Pick And Putt Ride (another 148 miles) Steve Kimock’s band gathered like eagles. There was Steve and Bobby of course, but also John Morgan Kimock on drums, and Leslie Mendelson on vocals, piano and guitar.

Leslie on the old Chickering
When my cousin Dan Birman’s dad Joe passed away recently, Dan graciously allowed the 1913 Chickering to come live with us on stage here at the Fur Peace Station. So far, Jonathan Edwards and Leslie Mendelson who played it exclusively all night. She never touched the electronic keyboard once… except to move it out of the way.

John, Leslie and Bobby get ready to rock while Steve tunes onstage...
The show was awesome… of course! I joined Leslie and Steve for two acoustic numbers, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out, Mama Ain’t No Lie and then later on, I picked up the Firebird to join the band for two electric rockers.

Let it rock!
This was a musical night that was surrounded by spiritual energy. Start to Finish!

Thanks for playing the old piano, Leslie!
Sunday, Leslie dropped by for lunch and Wally and I took here for a ride in the woods on the Kawasaki Mile… Lovely.
Then before we knew it, Monday came and time for a wrap up!

What a class... missing are John and Mike... they had to get home.
Like I said these moments in life… with the kids, with family… being a member of the human race…
I cherish every day!

Sunset at the homestead
Life is good! I’ll take all I can get…