I looked up from my book just long enough to wonder why the bus driver was turning towards town! Not thinking too much about it, I returned to reading my novel. Another stop to let more kids out got my attention!

I didn't recognize those kids! I began to have that sinking feeling. I was on the wrong bus!

Stop after stop and more and more kids got off the bus. I was way too shy to say anything! What am I going to do? Only a few kids were left. OK, I thought at this next stop, I will just follow the kids off the bus and start walking home. It was the only plan that my 10 year old brain could think of!

I set my plan in motion and I followed the two kids to get off the bus. Suddenly, a monstrous hand blocked my path! A booming voice resounded, "Hey, hold on there, partner, I don't recognize you!"

I froze. Not knowing what to do or say. I think I mumbled something to the effect of "I got on the wrong bus", but the big burly driver didn't hear me.

He leaned over still holding his hand to keep me from bolting out the open door. He then asked me to repeat what I said. After he realized my awkward predicament, he chuckled and closed the doors.

"We have two more stops to make, and then you can tell me where you live, OK, son?", replied the driver.

After being dropped at my house, my Mom came running out to greet me, with my older and younger brother in tow. She was crying. I remember that hug like it was yesterday. She apparently thought I had been kidnapped or something bad had happened. You have to remember here that cell phones hadn't even been thought of at the time. How did we ever make it without!

I have often looked back on that experience, especially when I 'wake up' to my surroundings and wonder how the heck did I end up here?

My Grandfather had a saying and it went something like this, "Once you choose the beginning of a path, you also choose the end." The idea being you need to look forward to see where that path will take you. Is that really where you want to go?

I think that too many times in my life, I blindly took a path without knowing where it would take me. I have applied this early experience to many areas of my life. My Grandpa's words have rung true many times for me.

One area in particular has been front and center for this ole cowboy lately. It has to do with career choices. Back in the 70's, I peered down the college path and wondered what it would do for a young cowboy like me. Once the college path led to a diploma the next choice of pathways lay before me. Why should I take this job or that opportunity?

Now I stand here, looking down a possible new career path. Where will it lead? What will I learn? How can I help others along their path? I am not sure what an ole cowboy like me is doing peering down this path of authors, but I like the looks of the possible destinations that lie ahead!

Oh, and as always, stay tuned for more musings from this ole cowboy!