Blog 535 – 01.25.2017
John Boy’s Journal

Over forty years ago there was a popular TV show called “The Waltons about a farm family in Virginia during the Great Depression.  One of the stars of the show played the older son called John Boy who aspired to be a writer. He kept a journal and the show was from his perspective. John Boy’s Journal documented the life of his family and lessons he learned from their struggles, triumphs, and tragedies. Thinking on paper was a practice I began early in my life, though I never kept a journal I did write a lot of letters and poetry. I continue that to this day. This very blog is to me very much a continuing love letter and poem as it were to all my friends and fellow travelers.

Most memorably of the Walton TV series was the family ritual of calling one another’s name out after everyone had gone to bed and saying, “Good night.” Most everyone who ever saw the show can remember hearing the affection in the parent’s and sibling’s voices as they called out, “Good night, John Boy” and also each one named all the others. This took a while but such is the case with all expressions of love and caring. What we love and care about most we invest time it. I love and care about people and so it is there I want to invest my time.

Many may laugh at my spending so much time trying to share my thoughts with others many of whom I may never have the privilege of meeting in person but there you have it. Some men hunt or fish, follow sports teams, of invest their time in order to leave a financial legacy for their spouse or children. The only legacy I intend to leave behind are I hope some well written words to my friends. That was I think John Boy’s intention and the reason he first began his journal. Each of us in a lifetime collects stories, lessons, that mean a great deal to us and we hope to pass that information on so others can benefit.

When it comes time for me to hear that final “Good night, John Boy” at least as far as this particular journey is concerned I hope to have left a few notes behind that will be an encouragement to future adventurers. It is, I think, a noble aspiration and one I intend to invest the lion share of the time I have left undertaking. Wow , undertaking sounds pretty close to undertaker and reminds me of some lines from an old Statesmen Quartet song,
“Undertaker, undertaker please drive slow for this body you are taking I hate to see it go.”
But go even the most beloved shall but what memories, words, and legacy will we leave behind. Good night, John Boy.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White