Plans . . . and Life
I was planning to try and write a thoughtful article about how life is what happens while you’re making other plans. And I guess I could try and do that – and attempt to wax eloquent on how that’s OK and how we make it anyway, even though it’s at times confusing and frustrating.
Then I thought some more, and decided I’d simply post this instead. It says the same thing, probably better than I can. And unless I’m badly mistaken, I’m guessing it will resonate a bit with many of TAH’s readers.
The lads were right. When I really think about it, I realize I don’t want to know with full certainty precisely what the future holds.
Have a good holiday, everyone. Hope this wasn’t too much of a downer.
Category: Pointless blather, Who knows
Awesome band….my two favorites by those guys are “Mekong” and “Interstate”. Too bad they faded out after that album, but they DID give us the theme song to “King of the Hill”. However, their singer Roger Clyne is still around performing in Arizona and does a few Refreshments songs in his set from what I hear.
I know one thing, you never actually have enough time to be with those you want to be with and you never realize that until it’s true. My life is pretty damned good these days, I’d like to be in better shape and I’m hitting the bike to make that happen so I ride about 5-10 miles a days…but more importantly than my own health is that I have two great step-kids and two great biological kids with 4 grandchildren all of whom are healthy even though the younger boy was born premature and we thought he might not make it. My advice is to plan for tomorrow so you don’t starve, but if you have a chance to get away and spend some real time with those you love or care about do it now. Don’t plan it for next year and blow it off today because next year never comes some times and that is a killer reality. My younger brother died at 22, I was thirty at the time and though I had plenty of time to help him build his race car and sing some music with me….I blew off some time with him because my kids were little and I was working two jobs and dead tired all the time…and now we can never build those memories, never spend that time. You got a friend who wants you to go fishing? or a wife who wants to take a cruise? Do it now, take that time live and love your life because nobody knows when you or they are cashing out and you get no second chance to spend that time together. When you die nobody gives a shit about that extra thousand dollars you made when you couldn’t spare the time to go with them on vacation. I’ve yet to have a friend who found out they were terminal tell me they wished they spent more time at work and less time with their family… Hondo, good post and a reminder we should all make each day count to ourselves and our loved ones,… Read more »
Veritas Omnia Vincit…”Hondo, good post and a reminder we should all make each day count to ourselves and our loved ones, because it might be our last or their last and how do you really want that last memory to exist for all eternity?”
Thank you and better said then I could have. It has never been more true for me since unexpected, recent events. A daily thought in fact. Never take time for granted, is what I knew before but it has become a new life endeavor for me.
Thanks bro, my best to you this cold, wintry day….hope you are doing well and finding things better with each passing day.
I was lucky, I learned this lesson at 20.
I was a very young sailor in my first squadron and we had a maintenance Senior Chief who bitched about everything, and I do mean everything.
He would bitch about being on shore and then bitch about deploying to sea, he would bitch about the coffee being too hot, too cold, too anything and then he would always follow it up with how glad he would be when he could retire and move back home.
Well, he retired and we had a big ceremony for him with folded flag, cake, and everyone saying how much they would miss him though I honestly believe most of them were just being nice.
Next day, before the movers arrive to move him and his wife out of base housing he had a massive heart attack and died eating breakfast.
That is what taught me that you can’t wait till tomorrow to be happy.
Hondo…Not a downer to me. Poignant and thought provoking. Thank you Brother. A wiser man and philosopher than I will ever aspire to said, “The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”. For me, I need that self examination and introspection.
Kinda on-topic: anyone seen a post from 3/17 recently? The last one I saw, he was down.
SJ……thanks for your concern. I’m doing ok. Just trying to stay in the moment and not feel sorry for myself. No more stinkin thinkin.
The topic today, really hits home. I’ve been a planner my whole life. I’ve invested pretty well over the years, real estate ect. Then the bomb hits with my wife’s illness.
I’ve made up my mind, to stay in today and not worry about tomorrow, if that makes any sense. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Today it’s sunny and clear. I’m setting in my favorite chair, doing some reading and looking out at the beautiful Columbia River and the boat traffic.
Whatever tomorrow has in store for me, I’ll deal with it as best I can. Meanwhile I’m just going to enjoy today!
Thanks for your concern
Steve
Fantastic. Great way to deal with it.
Prayers out once again. 3/17.
Hope this didn’t hit ya too hard, amigo. That certainly wasn’t the intent.
If you need to talk, vent, or just need someone to listen . . . I’ll go out on a limb and say I think most everyone here is available. Just say the word.
HONDO……Nah,not too hard. Actually the timing and the topic couldn’t have been better.
I used to be young and thought I was pretty tough. Now I’m old, but I still think I’m pretty tough!
Hell, I share more on this site than I do with my family. Great to have somewhere to go and vent with like minded folk.
Again, thank you all for your concern
Steve
3/17 Air Cav: good to see you’re hanging in there.
Still: the offer’s on the table. Any time you need to talk, amigo, or just need to vent – someone here will listen.
We all need to vent from time to time.
I have a lot of “if I had only known or did this instead of that” in my life. I have learned to think of the good times spent with that person or the lesson I learned. To try to not repeat my mistakes. To do anything with someone who means something, I will have to be in very bad contition to not keep my word. I have no excuse about having to work now. I have been blessed and try to pass on my joy. We all know the saying about remembering history. I try not to tie myself up in knots about “mistakes” from the past. My time is limited so I am always looking for the bright side. I hope this makes some sense. Joe PS I have 5 inches of snow and 29 degrees and low teens and more snow forecasted for Tonight.
I know of no better words for when its time for me to go.
Yep.