Say what?

“How come you aren’t talking to me?” my wife asks.

“What?”

Never heard her say anything. I sat in my recliner, oblivious to her spoken words. Beech Bend Raceway had temporarily bonged my hearing. I spent several hours watching dragsters, funny cars and others roar down the quarter-mile track at the Bend.

This was Saturday.

Today is Monday.

Still awaiting 100 percent auditory return.

I noticed my car stereo’s volume was only one notch from maximum today on a morning drive.

Springsteen was still screaming, but I kept turning that dial up to get the normal effect.

Headphones, next time.

Hear me now. Beech Bend racing is worth the experience for a park vendor’s tenderloin sandwich. They are fabulous. Double-dip of ice cream settles well, post-tenderloin.

One step closer to a world of hearing aids, canes and shuffleboard.

A sharper eye

My pastor delivers a constant message. If you’re not in a life crisis, one is on the way.

When two come along, well, I haven’t heard that sermon.

There’s some fodder for the pulpit. Certainly it’s not unheard of, losing a career job and nearly losing a parent in the same week.

It does test one’s mettle. Guess my family and I are holding our own. Not without deep prayer and consideration – consideration of whether to take my mother to a hospice or go with what’s behind door No. 2, a feeding tube.

We chose the latter, and it’s working well, albeit with risks.

Time off gives one time for deeper thinking. I’ve done my share, in terms of spirituality, mortality. In terms of life work and a deeper love for family. In terms of letting go of things one cannot change.

Timely reflection magnifies, and can alter, insight into past events and into those upcoming.

Here’s to looking at a crisis turned into opportunities.

Prayers are for patience, wisdom and humble consideration for decisions to come.