The passage of time

One of my favorite artists once said, "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time." How do you measure that passage? What value can you put on 69.5% of your life? Or 65% of another's? Those are the percentage of our lives that John and I have shared together. Today, 45 years. A long road. Four children, thirteen foster children, one niece for whom we were guardians, six grandchildren, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law. Shared losses, our parents, his sister. Sickness and health, richer and poorer. Four states, seven towns, fourteen residences, and four homes we owned. Numbers. Sharing dreams, supporting one another, fighting, loving, growing. Traveling and seeing different things through one another's eyes. Learning, loving, worshiping, quiet companionship, loud bickering. Learning to compromise, struggling when we both want to be right, in charge. Raising our children and enjoying our grandchildren. Listening to books together, working in the garden, nights in the hot tub watching the stars. Baking bread, making meals, getting groceries. The little things that make a life. Playing peek-a-boo with August, watching the boys run, sending goodies to the kids in college. Playing pinochle with family, taking walks in the park. Struggling to find the answer to why John was dying, and fighting to keep that from happening. Grieving the loss of friends and family members who passed on.Figuring out what we want to do with the rest of our lives together.

Paul Simon was right.

Give us a smile Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, gliding down Try not to try too hard It's a lovely ride Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, I'll be gliding down Try not to try too hard It's just a lovely ride