It was like I had the confidence of a 3-year-old plunking away at a toy piano. 

Every tune came out beautifully and they were all worthy of a dance. 

I have been able to find a rhythm that built upon that start. 

It is now time to find a longer strain and go for more. 

The music seems to turn itself up as a keyboard was what I heard next. 

It was from a flowing song that brought it all together as Come Sail Away by Styx.

For years, the single notes that came also brought the trust of the three-year-old. 

Picture yourself enjoying the dance and knowing that there will be some happy and some sad times, yet it will all come together in the end. 

That is how this music rolled forward for me as the notes built up. 

It’s also what’s ahead of me as the days keep coming. 

Come sail away as we take this journey.

Come sail away as we take this journey. 

I’ll share a step with you with a belief that we may have both been through some difficult times. 

Yet here we are together to look at things up, down and all around. 

Together we can look up for one thing that keeps our feet in place and going towards a thing. 

Can it happen at the same time? 

Perhaps. 

This is how it looked at a time in my life. 

I’m known as the one who’s in my 3rd act. 

This is because I’ve lived three lives, as three people. 

One is the person who knew things and where I was going as the young confident child. 

Then a person who was able to learn more with a grand soul. 

Finally, as this person who is learning, and that I know nothing at all. 

The person who was able to learn more, did it sometimes while pounding to the music that flowed through me as I went up and down hills. 

Created strength and realized I had angels flying next to me on the mountain trails. 

I searched for a tomorrow that I couldn’t describe or run from. 

What I could do was pull in and then see what came next. 

Those times I saw with a grand one were part of when I sailed away.

Those times I sat with a grand one were part of when I sailed away. 

We sat on everything and found joy along the way. 

Sometimes we went fast over waves that sparkled with sunshine and laughter. 

Other moments were taken as we flew along train tracks to adventures in a city. We followed up a day with good food and smiles for miles. 

Then there were the meandering days through libraries. Looking up, down and all around the shelves for the joy one book could bring. 

Flipping through pages for bright colors and animals to bring imagination into our play. 

Waving to the helpers at the front desk as reading and communication became a part of our everyday life. 

The speed of those days now sits in my mind as the memories wander around until they find a settling place. 

As if they’re looking for a beach to settle onto for a calm evening.

It feels like the confidence of that three-year-old has helped me in an ongoing way as the rhythm of life continued. 

The songs have changed since going fast over the waves with the grand one in my second act.

I have also added a different piano to the toy one.

What I now know is that I can continue to learn more while sailing away.

What I now know is that I can continue to learn more while sailing away to what comes next. 

The joy that comes with that is powerful. I have been surprised by many things as I gaze into the skies. 

Angels continue to run with me as I’m on the mountain trails and watch the waves come along every shore. 

And as I roll up and down the keys of life, up, down and all around.