Well-Lived Life

By Todd S Osborn

Summary
Well-Lived Life is a fictional story based on a father's life and his many adventures; a reflection on his imminent longing for and dedication to his boys.
Yearning for the past, with the reality of death sinking in, he clings to his last chapter in life through the memories of his past adventures. Will he come to accept the truth of old a

• Language: English
• Publisher: exquix llc
• Release date: Nov 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578315935

Todd S Osborn

About the Author The author is a father of three boys, whom he raised in a lifestyle of extreme sports and adventure. An entrepreneur and businessman, he experienced an entire life of traveling, extreme sports, and life experiences that provided an enriching and well-lived life. He dedicated his life and experiences to his kids, who are now grown up and living adventurous lifestyles of their own.

Book preview

Well-Lived Life

Well-Lived Life

Well-Lived Life

Todd S Osborn

exquix llc

Copyright © 2021 by Todd S Osborn

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Printing, 2021

Dedicated to my three boys

Ian, Jack, Patrick.

Well-Lived Life

by Todd S. Osborn

Prologue

My Final Steps is a fictional story based on a father's life and his many adventures; a reflection on his imminent longing for and dedication to his boys.

Yearning for the past, with the reality of death sinking in, he clings to his last chapter in life through the memories of his past adventures. Will he come to accept the truth of old age, or will he continue to borrow wishes from the fountain of youth?

Holey Moley What A Ride

Chapter 1

Waking up in an unfamiliar place, I couldn’t relate to anything but my normal physical feelings of stiffness. Lifting my uncooperative body out of an unknown bed, I peered out the closest window with feelings of anxiety. Where am I? I mumbled to myself, Do I have my car keys?

I lifted my legs upwards, touching my knees to my chest, stretching out my unforgiving lower back. It always seemed to lock up at night, as if it were telling me it didn’t want to wake up and proceed on with life. Focusing on living, my memory jolted forward to reality, and I realize I am at my new apartment in New York City. Yes, I moved to NYC!

Turning 80 this year and coming to terms with the fact that my three wonderful boys are married adults with their own lives, I decided I needed to focus on myself. Waking up one morning, I realized I am not very strong anymore with my weekend sports activities of snowboarding, mountain biking, and skateboarding. In fact, that has been true for some time. Plus, my boys have their own lives now, and they aren’t expecting or wanting me to come to their homes every weekend. So, I decided to move to NYC without a plan, and I am a planner! Was it destiny, strategy or a knee-jerk reaction?

I am alone, as usual. Over the years, I had been so focused on my boys, my career, and my relentless pursuit of extreme sports activities that I hadn’t made time for a girlfriend. I recently retired from my job with enough money to buy this car that I’ve always wanted… and enough leftover to keep me afloat for the next five or ten years of my life, I guess. Now subsisting off of social security, some would say I am living the dream. I’m not so sure about that… but it is my life, and it might be the last chapter.

I am missing my car keys for some reason, and I have this strong inclination to find them. I keep having this vision that I own a Range Rover… its so confusing, for I have always desired a Range Rover but have never bought one for various reasons. Either I couldn't afford one, or I couldn’t justify spending the money. I once remember trying one out and was close to making the decision, but my ex-wife said it wasn’t a practical choice. She was probably right, but now I believe I own one?

While searching for my keys, I found a crevice in the floor of this beautifully quaint and small contemporary apartment. It’s close to my bed, next to a heating vent; it’s proof that this apartment was remodeled. Dusty and decrepit, the crack was revealed through the splitting plaster, portraying the remains of the past within this new space.

Ok, so if I have a Range Rover, where is it? I question, And why do I have keys to an Audi? I wish I didn't feel the pain of the morning, because then it could be possible I am dreaming. I have to pee, but there isn’t a bathroom to be found in this place. Unless it is hiding behind a magical door, like the one at the Hotel Royalton in midtown NYC, I need to continue my search elsewhere.

After finding an envelope addressed to me on the marble countertop, I walk out into the hallway, anticipating I will find a bathroom. And yes, as convenient as it could be, there is one of those cool European-style signs protruding from the wall, stating Restroom. Eager to do something that will prove my existence, I approach the door; it has a key code on it. As I start to wonder what to do, a beautiful Eastern Indian lady with a beautiful and provocative red dot on her forehaed, her bindi. By her side I beleive her daughter come out of the bathroom. They move quickly and literally hand me the door