Then came the weekend no one was around and my daughter was back at college. Would I give up the opportunity to sit on my porch and watch the swans glide across the bay as the sun went down? I decided to risk sleeping in the house on my own, and although I did keep the reading lamp on all night, lo and behold, I emerged the next morning safe and sound. The curious thing is that once you start taking risks, a momentum begins to build, and the idea of stepping out where you haven’t been before assumes a pleasurable rather than merely frightening aspect. Do I see driving lessons in my future?

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