Way Out Westy

I didn't quite know what had gotten into me. For years I'd been deeply rooted within a life of raising kids, paying bills, and living the so-called American dream. In a constant effort to keep up with the rest of the suburbanites, I'd obsessed over material possessions to my heart's content. Funny thing was--none of it made any sense once the nest was empty.

One day I woke up and the kids were grown, my dreams had fallen by the wayside, and the house felt eerily deserted. And though I was surrounded by a mess of stuff, all I really noticed was my empty nest. With nothing more to lose, I decided to confess my feelings to my husband Norm, one morning over coffee.

I wanted to sell it all: the furniture, the house, the pots...the pans, and even the cars. I wanted to buy an old VW Westfalia, and hit the road; go wherever the wind might take us. I thought Norm would laugh, as I sat and bravely spilled my inner-most thoughts to him. To my surprise...he didn't.
In fact, he'd been feeling just the same sense of confinement for a long time, but never felt he should mention it for fear of my reaction. Norm had felt the urge to wander for much longer than I ever could have guessed. So it was decided-we agreed to take the plunge into a new way of life.

It all happened so fast after that. I began listing items for sale online, as I would continue to do until it was all gone. Finally, the ball was rolling in a new direction. It was all so exciting! I loved every minute of it. I felt like I was just starting out in life. Every time I sold something, boxed it up, and sent it to a new owner, my weigh-anchor lifted a little more. I felt happy and free, like when I'd first learned how to ride a bicycle.

Six months passed by in a whirlwind of selling, packing, and shipping. The priceless mementos-family photographs, some of the kids' old baby things and school artwork, and a few household items-all went to storage. I hated to admit that we really couldn't get rid of absolutely everything. Though, all in all, we darned-near sold the shirts off of our backs.

After purchasing a classic VW Westy, fully equipped with everything and the kitchen sink, we were ready to hit the road. Of course, our kids had already decided we were crazy, but we didn't care. We'd always been there for them; they were now working on families of their own, and had scarcely little time for us old folks. I always told them we were aging like fine wine, if-ever they did call us old. It usually spawned a laugh or two from the grown up versions of the ones I've always called 'my babies'.

Unlike most so-called road warriors, Norm and I had no intentions of heading in the typical direction of The Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, or any national park, forest, or monument. Yes, perhaps someday we might go and check it all out...but not yet. We had our hearts transfixed on the setting sun over endless waters and white sandy beaches. We were going to be 'beach bums' for a while; as long as our hearts so desired. It was the laid-back lifestyle we sought.

Though we were both pushing 50, we had stayed rather fit. I was one old lady who wasn't at all intimidated by the idea of wearing a bikini. In fact, I planned on donning nothing more than shorts and a tank top, or a bikini and a sarong, on most days. The wind in our hair, even though we were graying just a bit, and the sand between our toes; that was what we both craved. We would set up a barbecue grill or camp stove, cook-out beneath the bluest of skies, and sleep under a canopy of stars...when ever we wanted.

Our one tie to the old way of life would be my laptop. Taking it along on our adventure would allow us to stay more in touch with our kids, friends, and family, plus it was necessary to pay the few bills we still had left. I have to admit, even that small link to our former 'techno-cluttered' lifestyle was enough to bother me, but the freedom we had acquired more than made up for it.

Of course there were those times when we both wondered if we'd done the right thing, or if in fact, we really were crazy after all. But then something would happen; a reassurance that would sooth our inner-doubts and put us at ease again.

I remember one evening in particular, a magical evening neither of us will ever forget. Norm and I walked hand in hand on a quiet beach, the waves lapping ashore at our feet. The rain that had steadily poured throughout the day had slowed to a soft drizzle. The air was cool and crisp...enough for a sweater and blue jeans. The haze was such that we could scarcely see beyond the shore-the ocean was hidden by a mist of heavy fog; drury surroundings to most people, but not to us...for one spectacular reason.

Dark had fallen while we lingered along the beach. We'd started to turn back several times, though we just kept walking along, stopping to share a kiss every now and then. We considered ourselves rather blessed to still be in love after so many years together. Clinking our beer bottles in a toast to our new way of life, we laughed at the moment. The way Norm looked down at me, pulling me close to control my shivering; I felt like I was twenty-years-old again.

Looking up at him, I was distracted by a glowing light; caught off guard in utter amazement. The sky was dark and hazy all around us. And as we stood there-rain sprinkling our faces every now and then...a crisp breeze feathering our half-chilled bodies-a spotlight shone down on us like a mystical dream; the moment...so surreal.
Encircling the brightness of a full moon...was a clear, starlit sky. Like a dome of clarity...pushing the clouds and rain aside to form a perfect circle around a most-glorious moon; crowned with glowing splendor. That was when we both knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, we were right where we belonged.