Tick Tock

Tonight we are attending the “Life’s Too Damn Short” party, put together by a couple of friends of Daniel’s.  Truth be told, they were more friends of Daniel’s brother who passed away, but nevertheless, we are attending, kids too, because life is short.

I like the premise that “Life is too short” for missing out on the important things of family, friends, and love.  We don’t know how long our time is on this earth; we may live 109 years, or leave tomorrow.  The fact is we need to live and celebrate life right now.  This is not an “eat, drink, and be merry” post, but just a reminder to myself to enjoy and celebrate the little things that matter to me.

Life is too short to miss the enjoyment of watching the sun creep over the tip of the mountain, rays of light piercing the iron gray dawn.  It is too short to walk along the side of the duck pond and miss the elegant dance of the geese, the majestic gliding of the swans.

We are ever reminded of how fast time speeds by, no respecter of persons or situation by looking at our children and how fast they sprout up in height and precociousness.   Every mother has that moment, looking at their child, and sees that vast difference in not only physical appearance, but in character as well, and her breath catches with tears at the edge of falling.  It may be at the wedding day of a beloved daughter, or the college graduation of a son.  It may be the entrance to kindergarten, or the first steps taken.  In fact, mothers probably have that moment many times over.  I know in my short time as a mother, I have.

What about my relationships with those I have loved and hurt?  I remember the fights with friends in grade school, and how my world ended with venomous insults hurled at each other.  What about the friends that time and distance have caused the relationship to fade into acquaintance status?  Would I do something differently were I to know my life was ending tomorrow?  Would I mend fences?  Would I let bygones be bygones?

Life is short.  It was meant to be that way, and I don’t want to waste a minute of it today.  I want to run barefoot in the grass, fly a kite on the breeze.  I want to kiss my children’s cheeks, flushed with sleep and pleasant dreams.  I want to hold my husband’s hand, laying side by side, looking at the stars.  How about a roller coaster ride, adrenaline pumping through my veins, to verify I’m alive and kicking?  Why don’t I sit on a grassy knoll, face tilted to the sun, and let the warmth ignite the fire within?
*Thanks Google, for the image.*

What are you going to do today, to remind yourself that “Life is Short”?