notes from away

Mr Sisson BW, originally uploaded by mainegal.

It was Saturday after Thanksgiving and we were headed towards the Pike for the long drive back to Michigan. At the last minute, we made a right turn and headed back into town. There he was raking the pine needles in preparation for winter.

Mr Sisson is 96 years young. As we talked to him, he made us feel lazy and under-achieving. Mr Sisson related his frustrations in not being able to deal with the tree that had crashed through his garage roof in the spring. This is a man who still mows his yard, shovels the snow, rakes the leaves and needles, trims the trees and just about everything else. Did I mention he is 96?

I remember seeing him on my walk to and from school. After a few weeks, I finally spoke to him. That was in 1993. Even then I was amazed at what he did.

Mr Sisson inspires me to live life to the fullest. To do everything I love and to challenge myself to push beyond. Because if anything, I still want to look forward to shoveling snow at 96.