By Trina Machacek

            Hopefully there is no time limit on how long you can take looking for something you either have lost or just desire to find in life. I have a friend, Robin, who has spent many years going whale watching off the coast of California without seeing so much as a spout. This year though. I have lost count of how many years she has been traveling from Central Nevada, up over the Sierra Mountains, down to Southern California to see the magnificent whales. Years. I say years she has gone and looked until… Finally this year she achieved her dream. Not sure I have ever given that much of me to achieve something.  Have you?

Trina Machacek

Oh another friend has moved from being a lonely “one” of many children in a tight knit family, to now being an Airline Captain and pilot’s private jets around the country and beyond, taking people to hither and yon for his living. His life, and Robin seeing whales have both given me time to think about what, if ever, I have gone searching for. To find the “thing” of my life.

I may not be a spring chicken, but I am not ready for a dirt bed either! I am over fifty but under 100 so I think I still have time to find my “thing.” Driven people are very unique. Knowing what you want, studying late into the nights and days, learning, practicing and putting into practice what you want. I have never had that. The only thing I have driven that I remember loving to drive was my 1973 yellow Ford Pinto when I was very young. Taking my “Bippymobile” (yes it was the 70’s) to the Friday night party at the Who Hole party spot out on the Lackawanna Road, holds many fine memories.  But a life path drive? That drive hasn’t hit me full in the face. Yet!

There is somewhere, a saying that has something to do with a rutter, a storm, and a ship. Keeping your eye on the prize. Grabbing the brass ring and holding on to reach my “thing.” Sometimes we may all think we have missed our boat. HAHA Just in time though, if you miss one, stop, breathe, and just wait. Another will come along. I live by that and believe it whole heartedly.

Can we direct our passion? Can it be possible to want something without knowing what that “something” is? Every so often I hear or read about someone older going back to school to become a doctor or nurse. Or butcher or baker or candlestick maker. I am not a “back to school” kind of person. I have enough knowledge to get me from here to there. My poor head couldn’t fit many more morsels in there. Could it? No. Pretty sure sitting learning more and then putting that learning into practice isn’t where my “thing” is. So my search continues.

Searching. hunting, seeking and my favorite, rummaging through life. Yes, I am rummaging through life looking for my “thingy.” Well, wait that didn’t sound quite right, did it?

I know this. I am a good and honest friend and person. In the way an honest friend will tell you if indeed you either do have a hat face or do not have a hat face. That is a good way to tell if your friend is true. We all know, truly know within ourselves if we have a face or head that can wear a hat. So to know someone that will tell you that indeed you do not have a hat face? Well you can trust them. One best piece of advice I have given was to a friend that moved to Texas. I said, “Do anything you want in Texas, but do NOT wear a cowboy hat. You do not have a hat face.” Yes, I am that friend.

During a recent doctor visit, my very cool neurologist, Dr. Louie, had a student following him that day. During the visit I gave Louie, as I usually do, a few copies of my recent papers with my column. He turns to the student and says that I am an excellent writer and have a column and newspaper. I send him and other ITY readers a weekly peek at the new stuff I write. I asked him if he still gets them, after all the years I have been sending things out? He said yes. He added that when he needs a chuckle, he reads my words.

Do you suppose, without me even trying to seek and find, that my “thingy” is being a writer. Naw. Must be something harder. Writing is just too much fun! :O}

Trina lives in Diamond Valley, north of Eureka, Nevada. She loves to hear from readers. Email her at itybytrina@yahoo.com