I set my voice-mail. I turned on my out of office. I logged off my work computer. I straightened up my desk and logged of. Vacation begins. Seventeen days without having to work. I drove home. I ordered a pizza for dinner. I am going to slide gently into the time off. I am sure it will take a day or two to spin down. I am looking forward to just…being. To filling the days with reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies, reading some more, eating, drinking, socializing, thinking, and all of those things that I enjoy just for the sake of enjoying.
There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran--
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by--
There are men who are good and there are men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban--
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife,
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan--
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend of man.
I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of worrisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
It's here the race of men go by--
They are good, they are bad, they are weak
They are strong,
Wise, foolish--so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
Sam Walter Foss
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