I use to volunteer at the Missouri veteran's home a few years back and befriended one old soul named Bill. I remember driving Bill out to his 90th birthday party that his family had prepared. He actually outlasted me and I was told he had stayed up till 1am enjoying it all. Sad to say we lost him just 2 months after that party.

At his funeral, the pastor made mention of something that stuck with me. He said it's not all about the born date or the died date on the grave stone but rather all about the dash in between. What do we do with our dash? Do we really live our dash as God intended or do we [censored] and moan through 90% and only live the small leftover 10%.

So why am I writing about this to a forum of folks that I haven't gotten to know yet nor have they really had a chance to know anything about me? I guess its somehow an altered and unusual form of prepardness principal that I feel compelled to share. If you love your life and live it fully then you are on the correct page so to speak. But if you are like me and often seem to be so wrapped up with the hard life that's so everpresent and unrelenting with its bills, economy and stress then just stop and priortize!

Today I spent 4 hours finishing up my wifes BOB and making other prepardness efforts. After, I decided to take my dog for a walk in our city's beautiful cemetary. Living in NH I can tell you there are graves from 19th century and some so old they're effaced to the point of blank rocks. But everywhere I looked I saw husbands and wives laid to rest side by side. I read the dates and felt a sadness for the mate that had to endure years alone after their loved one died; I suddenly felt my love for my wife grow a bit deeper. All the children from the 1800s that lived months or a few years, simply heartbreaking!

God bless the time I have left on this earth! I guess its different for me as I died on the operating table this past Feb during routine knee surgery, not to mention that I'm cancer survivor too. Now I live with a haunting notion of, "I could eaisily NOT be here today to enjoy this moment. Friends, prepare for the worst but I urge you to just love a little deeper and live a little more enthuastic. Create all the fun memories you can with the time youve been blessed with. Then when the world/life gets really tuff you have a stockpile of happy memories to sustain your spirit.

Faith & Friendship
Pooly

Amen.

I found this recently after having heard it after my mom died almost ten years ago.
I mean no disrespect for not knowing where it originated or with whom, and I just want to pass it along since it's helped me so many times thru the years...most recently with the loss of my brother's wife. Peace and love......

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning . . . to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears,

but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth,

and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth
.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard, are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash mid-range.")

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and what's real,

and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And . . . be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.


If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile,

remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash
Would you be pleased with the things they have to say about how you spent your dash?

Exactly- very nice way to put it

Pooly,

Good words. This past April my mother died at age 83. She lived a good life. On her headstone there is a lighthouse instead of a dash. We chose this because of her love of the ocean and beach. She passed that on to all of us. My dad has a Yankees "NY" for his dash. He loved sports. He passed that on to us as well.

I was asked to perform the internment for my mother (she was cremated). I have no training as a person of the cloth. I only had my love of my mother, my family and my God to guide me. A little understanding of ceremony from the 25+ years in the Air Force helped a little. It was a great honor to be entrusted to do the ceremony.

I want to thank you for honoring the veteran by taking him to his party and for being company to him at the funeral. That is a great service to your fellow man.

MSgt Taylor, USAF retired

I heartily agree with your observations!!!! Life is a very short journey no matter how long one is here on Earth. It is NOT the destination that matters but enjoying the journey and all the obstacles that one encounters along the way!

I believe destination matters. I have a dad I will see again.

Today I have a purpose, destiny and two sisters.

Jeanette Isabelle

A really excellent post....It resonates with me because last week I journeyed back to Arizona for the memorial service of an extremely close friend - a fellow climber and SAR diehard - sad, somber, and joyous, all at once. My friend did a lot with his dash.