Preface

15 Summers

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up and totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "holy shit! What a ride!"………  Hunter S Thompson

Preface

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, while mindlessly surfing the web, we find ourselves asking, “How on earth did I end up on this site?”  Perhaps it's a left click here, a link to there, or even a few wrong right clicks and before you know it you end up at “who knows where?”  We've all experienced this.  It's all part of the fun of navigating and exploring the world wide web. 

Two years ago, at age 58, I stumbled upon a blog called “15 Summers Left” (https://15summersleft.wordpress.com/.)  The blog chronicles the journey of two legal professionals who, inspired by their friend’s claim that he only had 15 good summers left in his life, decided to take a sabbatical and journey throughout South America. Admittedly, I never read their blog other than the first few paragraphs. I suppose not knowing the couple, reading the details of their adventures apparently didn't interest me as much as it might have had I known them, although I can only imagine that it was an adventure I would definitely envy. The concept of “15 Summers Left,” did however bury itself deep into my psyche and created a radical awareness of how I want to choose and be the author of those things that I want to make happen with the time that is left in the rest of my life; however long that may be.

In a sense, the idea is somewhat similar to the "bucket list" concept made popular by the Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman movie of the same name. A bucket list is that list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. But instead of a list of events to check off once they’ve been completed, “15 Summers” is a mentality, a mission statement of sort, and a roadmap. “15 Summers” as a way to get to the end without having to endure the sadness and realization that I've run out of time and then having to confront the thought "if only I would have."  “15 Summers” is realizing that we only have one life to live and if we live it right, one is all we need; and then making damn sure you're living it right. “15 Summers” is realizing the ground is stationary but we as people are mobile, which means we can not stand still or plant ourselves comfortably on a sofa somewhere and then wait for adventure to come seek us out. Instead, we need to actively pursue, chase, and seek out our dreams and desires. If we chose to lay still or stagnant, those passions will never find us even though they may have always been within reach. “15 Summers” is being a “get ‘er done” kind of person because you had the courage to take the word, "can't" out of your dictionary and "just do it". And, “15 Summers” is coming to the realization that at a certain age we are all on borrowed time knowing that, statistically speaking, life could wish us farewell at anytime.

Over the years, especially as I’ve grown older, I have observed friends and family members reach that golden age where physical challenges and inabilities have hindered and prevented them from doing the things they always wanted to do. Far too many excuses, "around-to-its," and way too many "some days."  How sad if "someday" never came.  As I mentioned, I was 58 years old when I first started using the term "15 Summers." At 58 years old, I knew, at least hoped, that I probably had more than 15 good summers left but still continued to use the phrase "15 Summers" even at 59 years old. But then three months ago on my 60th birthday, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized that I may actually have to start counting down. I may only have 15 good summers left. Now that's some reality right there!

Whether I have 5, 10, 15, 20, or more good summers left is not as important as being committed to the notion that no matter how many summers I have left, I will not let a single summer pass me by nor will I waste a single one of them. As my wise and ever so insightful father-in-law, Jack Bilheimer Sr. often said, "….this ain't no dress rehearsal."  
 I believe so strongly in “15 Summers” that I've expanded it to include more than just summers. Living in Southern California, summer is almost a 12 month season with the exception of that one day of winter we call Christmas. So for me, not wasting a single summer really means not wasting a single minute of time that I have left. To me, “15 Summers” has evolved into something greater than I ever imagined. My intent here is to chronicle my adventures over the next 15 years and more importantly, to encourage others to live life to the fullest because seriously, "...this ain't no dress rehearsal!"  Hopefully, you the reader can tailor “15 Summers” to benefit and enhance your own life, passions, and desires as you see fit.  Because, one day you may wake up and there won't be any more time left to do the things you've always wanted to do….. Do it now! “15 Summers!”