I know, I know...

HI All,
It's been awhile since I posted...sorry! I blog on www.chelmsford.patch.com, have FB and Twitter now I'm trying to spread things around!
Hope this finds you all with power (after our crazy a** Halloween storm) and doing well! It's been a great weather week thus far and I hope that keeps up!

Tomorrow is ONLY 2 weeks until Thanksgiving...hard to believe. We all kind of lost a week during the storm and its aftermath so I think that's why it seems like it's coming so darn fast!

I've been thinking a lot about my Dad the last few weeks. Why? Well, he was only 47 (my same age) when he passed in December 1980 and I just keep thinking...if I only had 6 weeks more to live, am I living every day and appreciating every day and telling folks how I feel about them and all that good stuff? I hope I am, I do try.
But, I look around at some people in my life, whom I do love and care for, who are wasting their time. I mean, they are wallowing in self doubt, self pity, beating themselves up about things that do not matter...throwing negativity into the world every day and basically, IMHO, wasting time. Now, I'm certainly NOT perfect in ANY way...I've got tons of flaws going on over here and I myself have days of self doubt, pity, negativity...but, I do try and pull it together and not WALLOW in it.
So, if you're reading this and you see yourself in the whole 'wallowing' bit...
Look, I get it. Life is hard. I've had REALLY hard times myself but I also know that it gets better. It does. I also know that I can always look around and realize that, no matter what I'm going through, someone else has it tougher. And, that makes me put things in perspective.
And, by the way, when you come to your last day do things like work aggravations, traffic, long lines at the store, being on hold 'forever' with customer service and all those types of things really matter? No.
I think of seeing my Dad, in the hospital, days before he died. He couldn't really talk to us because of all the tubes and I imagine what he was thinking...how he would miss us kids, his brother, his nieces and nephew...the life he had. I don't think he was thinking about how he hated traffic. I don't think he was wishing he didn't eat that bacon for breakfast. I'm sure he WAS thinking he shouldn't have smoked all those cigarettes-being that contributed to his heart condition. I don't think he was thinking about his bank balance, bank fees, what bill he didn't pay or what kind of car he drove. He wasn't worried about the clothes he wore, or if his house was bigger or nicer than anyone else's, or what he weighed and if he should be weighed less. He wasn't worried about his haircut or his job.
He was thinking of all the things he was going to miss with my brother and me. He looked at me and his eyes were saying he was sorry he couldn't stay with us, that he loved us and never forget that. I'm sure he hoped that he had taught us well, though we were kids, and that we would think of him as a good Dad...and never forget him.
So, if you're reading this and you're too focused on those things that don't matter, getting mad, being bitchy or negative about life...do me a favor ok? Think of my Dad. Think of yourself and if YOU only had, today, 6 more weeks to live. Would you keep on worrying about traffic, little slights, how much you weigh or whether you're where you're 'supposed' to be in life? Or...would you just 'be'.??
Please...just be. Be in the moment. You'll still get aggravated by things, we all do...but GET OVER IT. Don't hold onto it. It's not worth it. Enjoy your life because you just never know when you won't have it anymore. Look around at what you HAVE, not what you don't have. Appreciate all the people in your life instead of treating them like crap. What if that's the last time you talk to them? Because, you know what? They'll remember.
I remember the last thing my Dad was able to say to me before he left for the hospital for the last time.
"Don't worry, your old Dad will be fine and when I get home, we'll all go Xmas shopping."
I'm sure he also said, "I love you." but that I don't exactly remember.
We never went shopping.
But, I'll always remember how my Dad treated us. We know he loved us more than anything in this world. He was a good Dad, more laid back than you'd think. He was thoughtful and kind (and tough when he wanted/needed to be). He loved with everything and if you hurt him, he would never forget it. He was smart, funny and wise. Drill sargeant on the outside, teddy bear on the inside.
Hmmm, who does that sound like?
So, remember that people will remember how you treat them and how you made them feel.
And, hey, have a good day will ya?