Waxing affectionate

Well, I'm sitting on the floor (because that's the only place I can find a plug for my laptop, which has a chronically weak battery) at the Dallas Ft Worth airport waiting for my connecting flight to Detroit where I will be having a preliminary interview with another car wash company I may want to work for. Sitting here reminds me of an old Paul Simon song, which I can't remember the name of, but where he sings of watching people at the airports, especially the babies and how they look at him with pure innocence, and I think about the lives of the people I see and how each of them are individuals with a fascinating story to tell, and I wonder about them and their families, what their stories may be. Some give me the impression of immense sadness and loneliness. Others seem so well adjusted and confident. Still others just seem to be moving ahead like walking through a rainstorm, just enduring the moment because they know the rain won't last forever. I know this is all just guessing and I don't really know what's going on with them, but it makes me think more about my own life.

A friend of mine sent me a copy of a story that really rang true.

" And it's winter before we know it....
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all...
And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go? I remember well.. seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like... But, here it is...my friends are retired and really getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Lots are in better shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will..I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over...its over....Yes , I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done ,,,,,things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime....So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after."

Boy, does that say it or what? A couple of weeks ago Cherryl and I met up with my old high school friends, Bart Fenton, Scotty Brunton, Roger LeClair and their wives, Tawnee, Patty and Vickie. I really enjoyed the short time we had but the story above came to life. We're not kids anymore, and each of us has an interesting story to tell. (For those of you who remember them, here are some pictures. I don't know what happened to the picture of Tawnee)

Scotty and Bart

Roger and Vickie

Scotty and Patty

Lately as I lay in bed at night I think of how fast time is going now. Like President Bush said the other day, the days are long, but the weeks fly by. I'll be 58 this year. I could never have imagined it would come so soon. As healthy as I feel, I am starting to realize that it still may only be a short time before I pass to the other side, my time here is over and I have that personal priesthood interview with my brother Jesus Christ. The reality of his existence and literally, physically meeting him face-to-face is finally sinking in like never before. I'm not afraid of the meeting, but I have to wonder how much more I can do before it happens. (No, I am not having a premonition about crashing on my next flight.)

Sydney and I and her friend John went for a bike ride in the rain yesterday and as messy as it was I completely enjoyed being together just riding and talking. Now that the house is empty mom and I have time to talk and kind of rediscover each other. Life and raising a family can tend to take up so much of your time that it's easy to forget to take time to just be together. I'm enjoying this.

The bottom line is that I am just very grateful for my family and the ever present sense of eternal belonging; Cherryl and all the kids, mom and dad, brother and sisters and all the little grandchildren, nieces and nephews that are coming into my life, and I just feel a tremendous feeling of affection for all of you. The only thing that matters in the long run is God, family, love, service and doing the best you can. Families really can be together forever.