A great philosopher once said "We may never pass this way again". A lot has transpired in the time since I last blogged here. In fact I went through several passwords and finally gave up before I confessed to the powers that be (Google of course) that I have no clue what my password is. I will post a hint in this blog for myself that only I and my sister and brother would get so this wont happen again!
Here we are, almost a year later. My apologies for not taking care of this blog. It's not that I don't have anything to say (although you may disagree with me after you read this) or my sometimes poor internet skills (just ask Google or my web server, Fat Cow.com) or my desire to express myself (just ask anybody, no shortage of opinion here), but probably that awful four letter word.....TIME.
As I was cruising facebook one day I saw where a former student of mine was retiring from teaching. She was admittedly from one of my earliest years of teaching, but still looks like she could be in her 20's or 30's and with the same sparkle in her eye that she had when I taught her. My response was something like "how can you possibly retire? Go back in that classroom and do another 20 years!"
It seems like only yesterday when we were all out there on that practice field (parking lot) or at band camp or at a football game and now????? Some of my students have more grandkids than I do.
not you, Paige, that remark was for some of your classmates.
Which brings me now to current events. My kids.
Kid #1, Christopher is as we speak finishing a family vacation at Myrtle Beach. He and his lovely wife, Angie have two beautiful children. Myles, who is now 5 and a pre-school graduate looks just like his dad (and therefore like me, don't you love the tie in to the beautiful remark?) and Emma, who is 20 months old and still looks at me like a calf at a new gate. He is a customer service rep and a children's pastor. I remember the first time he went to church camp and ended up going commando because Lew Nix, his counselor and Christopher couldn't locate everything in his suitcase.
Kid #2, Daniel just finished his Doctorate at Emory University in Physical Therapy. He completed his education with a 4.0 average (Highest Honors) and is studying for his boards next month. Also next month He is marrying Hannah Roesch, a beautful redheaded soon to be Elementary School teacher from Toccoa, Georgia. He is also beginning a job search and together they are looking at houses in the Jefferson area. It seems like only yesterday, Daniel was getting in trouble with Mary Williamson for disrupting Kindergarden.
Frances and I will be fine, no empty nest syndrome here. We have plenty to keep us occupied, me with work, my music, my ministry, bowhunting, and my dogs and her with being my snowbunny super hot midlife crisis incredible drummer, gardener, sidekick, accountability partner, and soulmate. As we prepare for Daniel and Hannah's wedding I remember when she came in the back door of Jefferson United Methodist church on that day in 1979 and took my breath away.
So my journey continues, from that place where the train City of New Orleans pulled out of in that famous song, (there's a hint for you) to a lazy morning on Runt's Private Drive. Time is flying by and life couldn't get much richer. To those of you who have played a part in this adventure, I say thanks and I love you, and stay in touch. I promise to do better......really.....
In the flow,
Jack
