Life is too Short

 

Sometimes I'd rather not be taught things. Yesterday's lesson was that life is too short, better make the most of it, and more importantly spend as much time as you can with those who share it with you. I'm guilty of not following the second part of that and had time to think about it as I sat at a funeral. 

Here was somebody who helped teach me how to walk. Granted, it may have been a mild form of child abuse as I was coaxed, pushed, maybe even tricked to walking to the point my little legs didn't even want to work anymore. Over and over again with his brother and sister sending me back and forth. Or how about the time he helped teach me how to swim? Sure, I had swim lessons prior that never taught me a thing. His method, much more effective, taking me for a "boat ride", only to leave me stranded on a raft with swimming being the only option to get back to shore. I'm obviously here today, so it worked! Not only did I get back to shore, but I can swim.

I'm not exactly sure what life lesson was being taught when I jumped in the hole he dug, only to find myself buried up to my neck and left stranded, again. Maybe, it was where my independence came from. Or maybe, the lesson was don't be so damn gullible! Either way, something stuck. Those who know me well, I think it's obvious where my teasing nature comes from after being subjected to years of this "torture" growing up (yet, I loved every second). 

My point is he played a part in fairly large part of my childhood, yet I hadn't seen him twenty years! The worst part he was only 150 miles away. I missed my chance to laugh and joke about those things he did to me. Missed my chance to thank him (can't believe I actually want to thank somebody who left me stranded in the middle of the lake). Maybe most importantly, I missed my chance to return the favor with some jokes of my own, and some payback! The last lesson he taught me was this, never assume there will always be time. This also serves as a warning to those friends and family that haven't seen me in a while, I'm coming to spend time with you. Good-bye Kevin.