Captaining Life

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By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher

Throughout my life when given the option, I’ve often chosen to be the chief rather than the Indian.  Now I know that philosophy comes with a great deal of responsibility and effort, but I’ve always been okay with that.  Though I absolutely believe in my heart in a greater power, I’ve always felt that I needed to do my part for my family, my friends, my community, my business in charting my own course.  In my mind, that meant being the captain of my ship.

This mindset has led to an extraordinarily, what I will call “busy,” life.  I really don’t know any other way.  As one chapter of my life closed over the past six decades, I’ve been ready, willing and able to pen another chapter filled with both obligations and grand adventures.  I like that.  I relish in creating my own reality, being large and in charge of things that are important to me, though it absolutely scares Mr. Kaminski to death at times.  I’m creative like that.  At least he will never accuse life with me of being boring.  There’s that.

As I’ve gotten older, it seems like so many of my people are disappearing from the ship.  Yes, some have left us to go to their heavenly home, and many have just left – evaporating in presumably thin air.  I understand change as we get through this thing called life, so I commence to hunting my people down.  I’m proactive like that.  Many times, however, what I find is concerning.

What I fear is that so many of my folks are now trudging through life while I prefer to skip.  Y’all know I’m not running, and I can skip in heels.  Mr. Kaminski worries about that, too.  In his defense, I have fallen off my high heels only to break my ankle.  In my defense, I was running late to my baby’s basketball game. True story.  The ugly shoes the doctor tried to get me to wear during this baneful break were just tragic, and of course, I refused the offer of a permanent cast.  They are impossible to style.

I’m reminded of Whitman’s elegy, his cry of “O Captain, My Captain.”  Y’all know I’m full of random literary references due to my penchant for the written word, and I’m not remotely comparing myself to Abe Lincoln, though we do share similar philosophies when it comes to mankind and both have a penchant for live theatre.

As in Whitman’s words, I vacillate between both grief and shock as I feel the loss of many friends and colleagues, yet I also feel a deep admiration for the many folks God has put in my life.  I’m grateful for the time I had with them, the meaningful times, the good times.  I just want the ones who are still around to skip with me, not be mired down in the quagmire of older age.  Just hold on and enjoy, friends.   I’ll steer the ship and get us safely and joyfully to port.  See y’all next week – on the porch!

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Patti Parish-Kaminski

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