More than one person has accused me of being an over thinking. Perhaps, I am. I do have my thinking rock. Everyone should have a place to go to ponder life's questions. This rock is my place. It isn't just a rock. It looks like a rock, but it has a calming presence. When I sit on my rock I don't just think. I ponder.

Soon after I bought my land I discovered ponder rock. It has similar qualities to a deer stand. You can watch over the river, but people on the river never see you. I have had deer walk within 20 feet of me. One of them just stood there and looked at me. I told it to be careful, in a calm voice, and it didn't move for awhile. Ponder rock is a place where I can make decisions that don't necessarily have mathematical solutions.

Ponder rock gave me a great view of where I wanted to build the house. I had the spot all picked out. I had even climbed into position to check out the views. One of the log home magazines had a guy that said that he had climbed trees to check out the differing views, and where to put the windows. I used a ladder. Then the builder told me that my spot was not practical because the driveway would be impractical. Then he gave me the mathematical explanation of where he thought the house should go. He was right. The slope of the land where we eventually built the house was perfect for drainage and a walkout downstairs. The driveway is a lot better too.

Ponder rock helps with my patience. Any parent who has survived teen age children needed patience. Several times during those years I sat on that rock. It worked. The kids all lived. Sitting on that rock, I realized that someday they would have kids. I didn't realize that some day there would be face book. My kids would complain about my grandchildren doing the same thing that my kids did. Revenge requires patience more than action. LOL! I have gone from uncool dad to cool grandfather.

Proposing to Roxanne was a great decision. It wasn't a mathematical one. I had envisioned a single man's log cabin on that hill. Sitting on that rock I could see a home. It wouldn't be my dream home without Roxanne. Some things become more clear when you don't just think. You ponder.

Mathematics has always been easy for me. Wisdom is harder to come by. Calculus was a breeze. Philosophy was a struggle. Sometimes choices are guided by math and logic. I made the decision to start my business with pencil, paper and calculator. Some decisions require a rock. It doesn't have to be a rock, but everyone needs a place to go to. That is a place to ponder life's important choices.

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Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark of Kewaunee, WI has been driving a truck for 24 years. He has been an owner operator for 11 years.

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