Overbrook Circle

Went by to overbrook circle to see Jessica and her crew.Addie asked if I had gum,JJ wanted to spend the night,Cooper wanted to roll around on me.I hugged Mom and watch Jessica smile as she nursed Nehemiah Cruz.They are only minutes away now and I can stop by at lunch or buzz by after work.In a few days they will be moving to their dream home-a refuge on a lake.I am reminded that nothing stays the same and that change is really the only constant.It has been such a blessing for me to see them grow and to give my heart away to such precious gifts.You can feel the love when they are around.Boxes scattered in the garage of things accumulated in their time there.I am so happy for them but I know that this special time is coming to an end.I kind of hope heaven will be a place where we all can gather and find comfort in the fact that we will never be separated again.Nothing to pack or move or sadness for that matter.As I back out of the drive I give thanks for all the years we had this and thanks as well for the times to come.

Seems Justified

Got a text today about an office I helped start and manage.Seems business is way down and they may close soon.I met a lot of good people there but the head guy didn't seem to appreciate me or anyone else there.Not one of the original 15 people are there now.Of course a business has to be profitable ,but it also should be fun and in some way productivity rewarded.Several people said I was the best boss they ever had ,but I guess the bosses they had before me were pretty bad.I almost feel guilty in feeling good about the decline.I guess when when you give yourself to a cause and you don't get much back in return you feel justified in your frustrations. As I thought about what to say in the text back to my friend the only words I could think of were "It seems justified that they would fail ".

Mother-in -Law

She will turn 80 tomorrow.My how the years have flown by.All the old mother-in-law jokes -well they certainly don't apply to Loraine.I almost never say Loraine without putting Joe with it.I guess being married almost 60 years will cause that to happen.She means so much to all of us.If there is a better cook I've never met her.She is someone you can always count on to be thoughtful and kind .My Grandmother use to say there are givers and takers in this world-Loraine is most definitely a giver.She poured herself into Jolene,Brenda,and Joey.And of course she did the same with her grand kids and son-in-laws.Of all the calls I had to make a few years ago ,when I caused our world to fall apart, hers was the hardest.Of course without hesitation they were there loving us all though it.We got to travel together watching Josh and Justin play basketball.It was a special time that seems to have ended way too fast.I guess if I am honest I have wondered if I married the right girl but not since I became the right man;however, I've never wanted another mother-in -law.I Marvell at how she has so much energy for everyone else.I know that 80 may sound old but Loraine has more energy than anyone I know.A line from a poem I like goes something like this: Don't just sing me a song,but teach me to sing.For when I'm alone I will need the melody.Loraine thanks for teaching us all how to sing life's songs.And of course HappyBirth Day

Larry

It was Debbie's voice on the phone, "Larry and I are stopping by and bringing you a cake".I was excited to see him as it had been over 15 years.I realized I had been dreaming and the sadness began to set in.We were good friends and we had worked together for years. Two of our kids were the same age.Larry was called home a long time ago. I don't know why we dream what we dream but this whole day I thought about Larry and there were so many good memories.I miss him and I miss that time in our lives.We were younger and all the worlds possibilities were before us.Time does fly by and the older I get the faster it seems to go by.I believe the Man upstairs blessed me with that dream.It was a natural high that carried me the whole day.I am reminded of a line from one of my favorite poems- no one can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass or glory in the flower,it is for us the living rather to find strength in what remains behind.