The Next Best Thing

[Devyn-Leann]

When my parents reached their seventies and were having difficulty doing the things they had previously done with ease, a quote by test pilot Chuck Yeager became their favorite motto: "Do what you can for as long as you can and when you can't, do the next best thing."
My father in particular was challenged by a weakened muscular system that would cause his legs to sometimes give way without warning. Ever diligent that he might fall, my mother would periodically check to make sure he was still standing as he ambled around outside doing yardwork.
One morning, Mom spied him lying on his stomach under an apple tree. Alarmed, she scurried out to help. Only when she got closer did she see that he had a trowel in hand and was weeding. Exasperated, she asked, "What are you doing?"

My father replied, "The next best thing."

[Bonnie M.]

That motto is so true!  We're pretty much "there!"  But, we just "keep on keeping on!"