Trains I Missed

Having just celebrated another birthday and knowing I'm in the autumn of my life it's easy to keep looking back to see where I've been. At the same time there's a realization that I have less years ahead of me than behind me.

The song playing is called Trains I Missed by Walt Wilkins. It's been playing in the background of a couple of recent posts. When I first heard it I fell in love with it. If you listen closely it's not really about missing trains per se but the opportunities that we may or may not have chosen that brings us to where we are in life. It tells in metaphorical terms life is what you make it and how the redeeming features of wasted opportunities and regret can influence your character and yet you find yourself right where you ought to be.

In the first stanza he talks of loves lost, bridges burned, and roads not taken. Aren't those things we invariably look back on and wonder? You know, what if I'd kept dating Johnny or Joey or Jimmy (names changed to protect the innocent). Life would have been so much different indeed and really you do have to kiss a few frogs to find the prince don't you? What if I'd kept in contact with others and not forsaken their friendships? I can answer that one. They weren't good for me and I was right to burn those bridges. It's true some are regrettable but one has to do what's best for oneself. The hardest choices to reconcile are the roads not taken. There was that after high school graduation drive across country that a girlfriend and I dreamt of doing, the invitation to sing in a college Christmas Cantata and years later in a theatre group, and the steamy romance novel that never got written and published.

We all look back on life and wonder how it would have been different in other circumstances. Sure, there's hurt and regrets but when we really get down to it it is those choices we didn't make that bring us to where we are and right where we're supposed to be.

"It's a big old world but I've found my way

And the hell and the hurt lead me straight to it

Here's to the trains I missed."

(I've posted a side view of the caboose on Carletta's Captures.)

The Unfurling Of A New Blog

In recent weeks I have come to miss the original intent of why I started blogging. It started out being a more personal reflection of where I was at the retirement crossroads of my life. I enjoyed sharing my everyday thoughts and sometimes feelings of where I was and where I hoped to go.

Then, along came Skywatch, Ruby Tuesday, Watery Wednesday, and all those other wonderful memes around blogland. I was intrigued at finding the right photo to fit the right theme. It truly makes my day when I find something I think fits the theme well and I can hardly wait to share it with my readers. Photography has become a passion of sorts. I'm just an amateur and many of you out there inspire me to want to learn and be a better photographer. I don't want to name names and leave anybody out; but I know some of you know who you are by the comments I leave you. You truly are an inspiration.

The question for me became 'how can I do both?'

The simplest and maybe the hardest decision as well was to start a photoblog. At least that's what I've decided to do. I'm only going to post what I consider my better photos on the new blog. Most of those will no doubt be geared to the memes where it really is all about the photo. Here at Round The Bend I will hopefully be doing a little more writing and soul searching if you will. Sometimes some of the memes will be posted here because I'll find something I simply must talk about. :)

The debut of my new blog, CARLETTA'S CAPTURES, was yesterday afternoon for the Today's Flowers meme. If you haven't seen it I hope you'll click over and take a quick look and let me know what you think.

How long will I be able to keep up two blogs? I don't know. I do know inspiration has hit and I'm just going to see where it takes me!

Photographic Reflections

Some days it’s tough to get a handle on everything one has to do. There are things that need to be done, things that have to be done, and the inevitable things that most of us would just like to do. It all needs put into perspective and sorted out to decide just what the course of action will be.
Where do you go to clear your mind and reflect on how and what you will get done in a day’s time? A lot of times for me it’s in the shower that I sort things out. First thing in the morning a nice warm shower wakes me up and gets my mind going. I can slowly wake up and think about the day and get my grip on reality. It works just as well at the end of the day too. Nothing like a hot shower to say I did what I could, it felt good, and tomorrow I’ll pick up where I left off.
Yep, a cleansing of the body and a little reflection of the soul.


Quilly is our host for the Photographic Reflections challenge. Be sure to click on over there and check out the other participants playing or snap a photo, sign Mr. Linky and join us in the fun!