I often think about how my life has changed; it makes me
smile. I also think about how my desires have changed. It’s amusing to chat
with my boys, who are clearly in a different station of life than me. I must be
careful not to jade them—it’s difficult to discuss the findings of my life
without robbing them of their macro-romantic predilections, (which I feel are
only natural for people looking to build a family).
Conversely, I sometimes look around at my contemporaries,
and am surprised to find some of these same predilections still deeply
entrenched. Why would you be looking for the traits that would indicate a good
mother when you have zero interest in more children? Is the person you chose to
raise a family with the same that you want to retire with? Sure, for some, the
answer is yes, absolutely. Lucky them! I think they probably made their life adjustments
together and I think that is a fine thing. I do not, however, condemn those
that changed boats, midstream, on the river of life. While it may not be noble,
I suppose, living with the alternative, (being miserable), seems yucky. If
someone finds themselves without a canoe, why would they seek out another, just
like the last one, when there are speed boats, and fishing boats, and
windsurfers all available? If you wanted a canoe for the first half of your life, would you necessarily want another one for the second half?
It’s funny, a speedboat can be a high-maintenance thing, so
I encourage the boys to pick out a good canoe—it’s easier to push off from the
shore. There's no rush...enjoy the boat show.
