A good day

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

Today was a good day.  I didn’t know I needed this, but I did.  A country drive, a few pictures, and lunch with my good friend and my wife.  It’s the simple thing that keeps me hanging on.

I had not seen my friend Mark in weeks.  I had not taken a picture in almost two months.  Mark has just returned from a six-week trip out west and asked if I wanted to go for a drive and see what we can find.  I gladly accepted.

Saturday morning he arrived in his familiar yellow Jeep and we departed a bit before 8am.  Our conversation picked up right where it left off the last time we were together.  We chatted about podcasts, his trip, how I was doing, geocaching, photography and shared personal stories.  We made our way down Highway 62, through Corydon, toward Ramsey, then eventually to places like Milltown, Marengo, English, Eckerty and in and around Patoka Lake.  When either of us saw something of interest, we stopped and took a picture.  The Indiana countryside is so diverse.  From old barns, worn down trailers, nice sizeable houses, old farmhouses and well-groomed and junk yards.

I got to talk and listen to Mark, but also breathed, looked around, and take it all in.  Something that has been lacking since early June for me is the ability to relax, but also the ability to breathe and allow my mind to rest.  Being with Mark and taking pictures allows me to do so.  I watched the storm clouds from the Jeep window.  Something that puts me at peace, especially with the backdrop of a field with cows or a barn.  Traveling down country roads and seeing things and places I would not otherwise see was so refreshing to me.  My worries subsided, and I was living at the moment.

Photo by: Mark Wilcoxson

Eventually we made our way to a small cave on the side of a road at Patoka Lake.  I found a geocache (something I had not done in years).  Mark took the attached selfie to share with a friend out west and then we headed back.

Our morning concluded as my wife met us at a restaurant where the conversation continued to flow. Oh, and the stories.  We had a good meal and then we parted company.  My wife and I headed home but made a slight detour to Butt Drugs where I enjoyed a marshmallow Butt Malt and Marcie had a birthday cake waffle cone.  Judge if you want I don’t care.  We grabbed our sweet treats, headed back to the car, and I told Marcie “today was a good day”.   She replied, “good, I’m glad.”

Until next time,

Tim