Life

It's a pity, really, that it takes something/an event in your life that rocks you to your core before we stop and get thinking. Life is so, so tenuous. Everything can change in a second, minute, day.

You must be true to yourself... that’s all you can do. It's not all you can do but you know what I mean. It's what we are responsible for. Others? They're on their own and all you can hope is that they're being true to themselves, too.

It sounds so trite but it really is true that we need to savor moments, cherish time with friends and family, slow down, take time, look people in the eye, trust.

Because if we don’t trust, what are we left with? What other choice do we have and still maintain any hope for the world?

When that trust is broken? I don't have an answer for that except to know that, if you've been true to yourself, you'll have the depth of character and wherewithal to deal with it eventually.

Got a hug today from a friend who saw me crying and THAT'S what I’m talking about. Take the time. Write the email. Make the phone call. Do the drive-by visit. Cook the meal, whatever it is you’ve been meaning to do. Do it today or put it on the list for tomorrow at the very latest.

Be the absolute best person you can be because today very well may be your last chance before your world, as you know it, comes crashing down around you and you are fighting for your next breath, or the will to breathe and you are going to need every friend you ever had and every single bit of trust in yourself and belief that you have done the best you can do.

Only then can you concentrate on just breathing in and breathing out.

You know who you are and I love you, as Lloyd would say, all the way to the black hole and back.

Visit Completion

My folks left this past Thursday. We had a great visit and are now adjusting to having our house back to ourselves and at the same time missing them being around. Conflicting emotions!

My most cherished memory from growing up is the fact that never, to my recollection, did my dad ever say "No, I'm too busy" for us kids. And that's exactly how it was again this past month, this time experienced by Lloyd, and oh! did that do my heart a world of good. He misses his best live-in buddy.

I miss just having them around. Waking up and knowing they were just down the hall. The comfort of just knowing they were here. Now I feel very far away again.

Well, that's because I am. Just feel it more keenly sometimes. Not as much anymore but there you all are today with the Super Bowl about to happen any minute now and, if you watch it or not, it's a part of American culture and I miss it!

My girlfriend became a grandmother the other day; oh what I would have given to have been able to go to the hospital that same day to see her grandaughter and hold her like she did the night Lloyd was born.

It's okay. We've got quite a wonderful life here already. March 4th will be a year since we arrived. Really, really amazing.