Trina Machacek: Moving out, up or on

There are more than a few sayings that have more than one meaning. Or the same words that can be read in different ways. The one that pops into my mind and has since I heard it from Mr. Black, my English/speech teacher way back in high school, is this one. “What’s in the road ahead?” That can also be read like this. “What’s in the road, a head?” Talk about two completely different differences. Same letters but an extra space in one word makes a world of difference. I am sure there are other slightly different sayings that, with a zig in the pronunciation can be taken in by the listener differently. Why talk about this? Well, here’s the story.

If you have ever watched old TV westerns you probably heard the ramrod guy, the number two man in charge of getting those cows from here to there. The ramrod will start the herd moving by saying, “Head ‘em up move ‘em out.” Or just “move ‘em up.” I don’t remember hearing “move ‘em on” though. Up and out yes, but not, “on.” It all depended on the placement of the herd and where they were going. That same difference could be applied to people in your life. We as a group are always moving up, on, and out. It’s when that change, we make shifts those around us that makes riffles in all the streams in lives. Oh, the riffles. Now we are getting to my point. I know, finally, right?

There comes a time in every life when we move out. My first move out was out of my parents’ home after high school graduation. I should have gone to college, but I got a great job and my life moved quickly in a non-college direction. Moving out was exciting and terrifying. Moving out came with all of the grown-up things. OK all of the grown-up expenses. Way beyond food, clothing, and shelter. There were those entertainment expenses. Oh, the cost of entertainment as an 18-year-old can be huge. To grow though at some point, I think we all move out. Gratefully my parents saw my moving out as a growing thing and they always left the door open for me to come back.

Next would be moving up. As life elapses and time moves us along, we, hopefully, all move up in life. With money, jobs, family, you know life stuff. Stature has never been anything I noticed within me. My mom taught me to not put on airs. She was the most down-to-earth woman I ever knew. I carry that with me and hope that wherever life takes me I will always be approachable. To me sticking out my hand and warmly shaking another’s and saying, “Hi I’m Trina,” means the world to me. I can feel my mom smiling each time. So, I move up. It’s part of life. I will not though, leave anyone with my shoe prints on them behind me.

So, there is no question that in life I will always want to move up. But! Yes, an always moving “but.” I hope I never let those around me down by “moving on.” Moving on relates to me as moving away from those who I have come to know, love, and appreciate. Growing up meant the time came for me to move out. It made my moving out easier knowing I could move back indeed. I want to move up, sure. I also want to uplift as many as I can along my way. So, “moving on” seems to be a hurtful way to go. I will not move on and leave anyone who has been part of my moving along in life, alone and behind. In my best Trina voice I say, “Moving On, Icky.”

There is one more move that is amazing to me and hopefully for you. Forward. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I sometimes wallow in place. We as a whole will always have someone leave us; I am no exception. I wallowed in the pain of being left recently. Then I took a page from myself, stepped up and realized someone leaves and someone stays. I was not moving forward. I was not, as I say to my friends, “Happy, Happy All The Time.” I’m amazed at my resiliency though. Pretty soon, like magic my zippity returned. I am still standing.

Life lessons come, and you may find shoe prints on your head and maybe on your heart. Remember you are important and move forward. Yes, forward is an amazing motion.

Trina Machacek lives in Eureka. Her books can be found online wherever you buy books or email her at itybytrina@yahoo.com to buy signed copies.