Time is fleeting

Wow, it's been almost a year since I've written much of anything other than notes to teachers, grocery lists, household budgets, and whatever was absolutely required for work. One of the things I most love and want to do in life has become one of the things I do least. I'm not entirely sure why that is, but my best guess is lack of time. At 51 years "young" I find myself often spinning out of control on this roller coaster of life. My wife and I are raising two grandchildren after raising six children of our own. We love them dearly but at five and six years of age respectfully they exhaust us. I could probably spend the next several years pining for the freedom we had just started to enjoy when they arrived... but time is fleeting.

I was reminded of that fact just this past week as my aunt lost a long hard fought battle with sickness and passed away. I have such vivid memories of her over the years as this feisty, funny, hard working woman with a love for the rural countryside and her family. She had an infectious laugh and loved to call mischevious children scallywags. She was just here, and now isn't. In death she accomplished something no one has been able to do for years... she brought our family together. It's something we really haven't done since my grandmother passed away in 2003. It was bittersweet, and overdue.

And yes... time is fleeting.