It constitutes the height of lofty arrogance to proclaim, “My other car is a tractor!” Or so I quipped to my erstwhile physician earlier this afternoon while luxuriating in his meadow pool on his country estate. He and I had been carrying on an aimless conversation about Trump’s latest misadventure. There were as well idle references to the klan and the brotherhood (though importantly not in the same breath). Somehow the focus of our disjointed confab diverted to automobiles which I confess are routinely a point of inspiration for us both. It would be tarsome to track the convoluted process by which we jumped in a succession of unrelated topics to automobiles. But suddenly we were together sharing a belly laugh that, “My other car is a tractor!”
Naturally there are more indicia of maturity than reality (he really does have a tractor- and, in case you care to know, I believe he once owned a Porsche). It is however an undisputed advantage of the unobstructed mind; that is, telling it like it is. With equanimity. This perk of psychological composure is, notwithstanding its historic derivation, a highly enabling and invigorating state of mind. It is the uninhibited success of aging.
The identical vein of frankness filtered into our subsequent etiquette surrounding vacation and travel, topics which are likewise common absorptions in our sporadic communication. I sought to advance the latest theory that prolonged absence from home territory is unsettling to one’s inner peace. Or perhaps the thesis were more favourable of variety than winnowing indolence. The conclusion is however yet uncertain as he persists to adhere to his all-encompassing ambition to “Keep moving!” And while I embrace the physical advantages of doing so I am increasingly less committed to the sterilization of geographic constancy in the name of mobility. Instead I cling perhaps curmudgeonly to the theme that “There ain’t no ship to take you away from yourself!” which is admittedly a mere variation on the homebody’s excuse for inactivity. Yet I do accept the allure of intermittent travel. And as we agreed the decision is always subject to modification.
It was in this nondescript atmosphere that I retreated our colloquy in the rural environment and headed home to the village nest by the river.
My long-standing friend and I shortly have the upcoming distinctions of celebrating respectively 40 and 50 years residency in our community. As maudlin as it may sound to say so I recall vividly the day decades ago we first met in my office with the Director of the Almonte General Hospital. Since that fortuitous day there has been a lot of water and other good stuff under the bridge! Though I hadn’t then anticipated joking about tractors at this advanced stage of life. Perhaps he is right, keep moving!