There are milestones in this life we await with impatient joy. Drivers liscence,prom,first kiss,being 21!! And there are those that come all too soon, such as the passing or fading away of a precious loved one. Where as we don't celebrate them all, we should..must..take the time to take in all that each has to offer. Ride the waves of joy with fists held high, and a song in yor heart. Wrap yourself in the comfort of family, and good friends to weather the storms. Larry, my friend, this post is dedicated to you, and yours.
Recently I had the chance to go back in time to a part of my life I remember with great joy, though the catylist for the event came from a friend's enduring one of those storms. Larry's mom was in the local hospital in ailing health, and his trip home to Tennessee dealt with that. I'll leave details out of this post out of respect of the family.
Larry arrived at my home,with his nephew Keven, and after a round of nostalgia with my host, Mark Boles, and an annual from 1970's Senior High, we set out for Wayne Smith's rural White county farm. wayne is Larry's double first cousin (see them for an explaination of that). Wayne met us at the door, and led us out to his barnyard where he had just built a fine chicken coop. He was burning the scrap wood. The white oak burned hot in the chill windy April night. Accrid smokes mingled around us, as the wind chased us around the fire. Accoustic guitars came out of cases, and the joy of wooden music added it's "magic" to the mix.
I was swept back in time. Feelings, faces, and voices from the past flooded my soul I immediatly thought of this Crosby tune. How long had it been since I'd sat around a campfire with these men? Decades faded away, and my heart was young again! It was "the same old circle" like Crosby sings...you see/ it's got to be/ it says right here on page 43 that you should grab ahold of it else you'll find it's passed you by.
Stop my friends. Recognize these moments for what they are. Endure what you must, you have friends, and family to help you carry the load. But celebrate, and linger in the joys.
Life is fine...even with the ups and downs....
