Don't Blink

I have spent the last week visiting family and in the process I saw two friends that I haven't seen in years, for one of them it had been 28 years. We had lunch and talked for two hours over sweet tea. We caught up on each others lives and tried to figure where the time had gone. 28 years, that's close to 30 and there is no way that I have known anyone for that long, cause I am not that old.

Also this week I visited my brother and his kids. I have a niece who is going to be a senior this year. She plans to go to school in South Carolina (does she know how far away that is?) She can't be going to college because she is 12, she doesn't know how to drive and she hasn't realized that I'm a doofus yet. But alas she is a beautiful, independent, strong 17 year old woman who knows who she is, and what she stands for. I was able to spend time with her and if it is possible I love her even all the more now and if she realizes that I am a doofus she doesn't treat me like it.

I usually use the length of my marriage as a touchstone for everything else in my life, ie: that happened a couple of years after we got married, that was before we married, etc. I set back and think that I have been married for 16 years, to the same man!!! He has put up with me for for that long!!! 16 years, in the big scheme of things it's not that long, we have another 40 years to go before we can brag. 16 years I don't feel like it's been 16 years. I could never imagine being married that long.

I look in the mirror and that is what defies me. I have laugh lines in the corner of my eyes, each one carries a story though. My husband told me that he saw a gray hair the other day but I can't find it so I don't know if that counts. It may take me longer to get somewhere and if I don't get enough sleep I can't find the right words, but that happens to old folks. I AM not old, right? So I sit back and take stock of my life and realize that I am 41! And I graduated high school 23 years ago. I am waiting to get that invitation from AARP!

I sit here and wonder how I could be married 16 years when it just happened yesterday, or how in the world my beautiful niece could be graduating from high school when it was just last month that I went to the hospital and looked into her big blue eyes the first time and how in the world has it been 28 years since I have seen a good friend? I turned around and blinked. What I have been learning lately is don't blink..since time marches on I am going to enjoy the moment. I have learned that somethings can not be put off till tomorrow..my niece needs to know that I love her and I am proud of her and she needs to know now...and I told her.

There is a Christian song that really speaks to this- It's called "Blink" and it's by Revive

TEACH ME TO NUMBER MY DAYS
AND COUNT EVERY MOMENT BEFORE IT SLIPS AWAY
TAKING ALL THE COLORS BEFORE THEY FADE TO GRAY
I DON’T WANT TO MISS EVEN JUST A SECOND MORE OF THIS

IT HAPPENS IN A BLINK, IT HAPPENS IN A FLASH
IT HAPPENS IN THE TIME IT TOOK TO LOOK BACK
I TRY TO HOLD ON TIGHT, BUT THERE’S NO STOPPING TIME
WHAT IS IT I’VE DONE WITH MY LIFE
IT HAPPENS IN A BLINK, IT HAPPENS IN A BLINK
(IT HAPPENS IN A BLINK, IT HAPPENS IN A BLINK)

WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE
NO ONE REMEMBERS HOW FAR WE HAVE RUN
THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS HOW WE HAVE LOVED
I DON’T WANT TO MISS EVEN JUST A SECOND MORE OF THIS

SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN
BEFORE TODAY BECOMES OUR YESTERDAY
SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN
BEFORE YOU TURN AROUND AND IT’S TOO LATE