Movement

I guess there is and always be movement.  I am thinking that is what makes the world go round, pun intended. 

As I look back over the last couple of years there has been lots of movement in my life.  My son has gotten married and is experiencing an entire different kind of trouble and stress.  His marriage has seemed to bring us a little bit closer together.  Or should I say we have more telephone conversations that start out “how do you do it?”, “what the hell?” or, “Where is the girl I married?”  To which I always smile just a little bit of a welcome to the real world smile. 

We have had great friends and family members take leave from our lives.  This brings me great sadness , but as I said above movement.  We have met new friends and are enjoying them.  We have learned that an evening alone is something far more special than we ever remember in our hectic working lives.  We have learned that a day off adventure is the way to keep the new in your life. I believe my wife and I are closer than we have ever been in the 22 years we have been together.

We have seen the Memphis family mature and move on.  We are expecting more Memphis family to join us here in paradise, shortly.  As I look back and reflect, that group has always been in some sort of movement.  It is the first time however it seems to be moving away from me.  I have learned to just enjoy the moments together and treasure them even more.  Maybe, sometimes in the past I have been complacent about them, and the very special times we have all shared.  I now treasure those times together like the ones with my wonderful wife and partner.  If I am blessed the movement will be an orbit which means they all will move back to me as they make their own journeys around whatever it is we are all orbiting. 

So movement at the end of the day is something I guess we all need to continue to grow and be better people.  If we all just stayed in our comfortable place maybe it wouldn’t be as great as I was thinking it might be.  So let’s move.  One thing that will never move is my love for all of those people I consider my peeps.  That will remain no matter where I, or they move. 

Well I better get moving time for a day off adventure.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

The Daughter I never had

Wow where has the time gone?  It only seems like yesterday her and her mother were standing the kitchen, her in her school uniform, and her mother in full blown mother mode giving each other the exact same stare.  It was the first time I realized they were exactly alike.  I told them, and they both almost killed me! That, my dear friends, was twenty years ago or close to it at least.

I have always been told that there is a very special bond between a Father and a daughter.  I have been very blessed to watch this one for many years.  I watched as he fretted over her as she finished school and planned to move to Oxford.  I have watched each graduation and the pride on his face.  I watched as he walked her down the aisle the night he decided to share her but never give her away.  I am watching  as she is bringing up two wonderful dynamos she calls sons into this world and witness on occasion her being that special Mom her Mother was to all of her siblings.  I have watched as her father, always the doting Dad, making sure she had the best car, the best clothes, the best education, simply just the best of anything he could provide.  What a wonderful example of a father he was and still is to this day.

I have been so blessed to be able to cheat my way into this family.  And I have adopted all of the kids as the crazy uncle I guess.  I love them much more than any of them will ever know.  I will never forget her twenty first birthday.  I was so honored to cook for her and her friends as they welcomed themselves into the legal age to have a glass of wine.  And I have been so blessed to have shared many with her since.  Like her Mother she has great taste, bless her husband’s heart! 

Well today that little girl turns thirty and that doesn’t seem possible.  What a young lady, wife, partner, mother, nurse, and general all-round great person she is.  There is no question if I ever had a daughter I would want her to be exactly like Mac, or Sis as she is known to her loving Mother.  Can’t think of two women I love more than these two.  I thank the good lord every day I share a live with these beautiful people.

Love you Mac.  Thank you for always including this hanger on in your life.  I couldn’t be prouder unless I  was you Father and we both know I could never fill those shoes. 

Peace,

The Blessed Man