The End - Trip Completed

I was making my way to the gate for my Southwest flight that would take me home to St. Louis after being away 56 days. I looked out through the window and there she was the Allure, ever the vixen luring me back into her care.

I had been hers for the last 26 days, she kept me close and she kept me safe. In the end neither of us wanted to let go, but we had to.

I took a quick look at the door that separated our being united again and wanted to bolt at high speed through the glass enclosure but I knew I would never make it out alive. So I sighed that heavy sigh of resolution and turned away from Allure's gaze but not forgetting all she had done for me these past weeks. It was time for both of us to move on.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To all my friends and acquaintances who have followed me on the recent journey, thanks for coming along with me. It has been a wonderful trip and I enjoyed sharing a little bit of it with all of you. I will work now to get my photographs organized and up on Flickr soon for those of you that would like to see a bit more of places that I visited. Stay well, be happy and treat others with kindness each and every day.

My Way ~ Frank Sinatra

And now, the end is near; 
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear, 
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and every highway; 
And more, much more than this, 
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few; 
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course; 
Each careful step along the byway, 
And more, much more than this, 
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, 
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall; 
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, 
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that; 
And may I say - not in a shy way, 
"Oh no, oh no not me, 
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels; 
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way! 

Yes, it was my way.