New Way For Me to Injure Myself

The Dash

The Dash

copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of a 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 following date with tears,

but he said 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

that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what's true and 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 proud of the things they

say about how you spend your dash?

Solid Snake Charmer

Here I am, sitting in the coaches office in the gymnasium at the school, blogging during the summer. It's a day before my birthday and my girlfriend (that's right, I said "my girlfriend") is all the way on the other side of the world for a couple of weeks. Since we started dating we have kept some sort of communication (text messages, emails, phone calls, etc.) with each other, until this time. Instead, I just look at my phone going back to the last text message that she sent me and read it dozens of times. Just today I got my birthday present from her and a note that went along with it. So, now I will just read that over and over again. But, I realize this is just temporary (hopefully). I consider myself blessed.

Thankfully I will be pretty busy in the meantime. Starting tomorrow our basketball team has team camp. That will keep me occupied through Friday. The weekends will suck because I don't have anything to do. I'm sure I can come up with something (no, cow tipping is NOT an option.... and has anyone ever done that? I've never heard of anybody ever go cow tipping... I think it's a myth created by northerners to make southerners look more "hickish").

I'm also house shopping. I've looked at a few. And a few of those I kinda liked. I have at least one more to look at next week. It looks pretty promising. I just want to get this whole process over with. Also, I'm probably about to buy a motorcycle. But ONLY for gas saving purposes... yeeeeaaaaahhhh. Do you believe that?

Other than that, I'm just trying to enjoy my summer break.... well, somewhat of a break, I guess. Oh yeah, next week is the worldwide release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I've been waiting 3+ years for this game. And from what I hear, it will be worth that wait. Yeah, that was a nerd moment, but I dont' care.

Until next time, vaya con Dios.