"Time" is a Friend

Everyone was still awake when I came home for the wonderful GA celebration last night. The family which of course contains Grandma this week were having a game night and concluding their festivities. Grandma requested to see videos of our son’s Holiday performance and our daughter’s presentation from last month. These were completed during the last few days of school as the children headed into the Winter Break. Grandma seemed to enjoy both performances and it is so wonderful to see the children in their element. There is no doubt I have been blessed with an incredible family and my children are so very special. Watching them on the video gave me such chills knowing how fortunate I am to have them in my life. I really don’t have the proper words to describe those feelings swirling inside of me but I can say WOW!!

As the videos concluded the children said their goodnights and headed off to bed. The evening had grown late and after a few minutes of chatting with my mother I too headed off to bed. This morning I had every intention of making up for the other day when I took off from running but my legs were feeling very tired. I decided to sleep in and try to work out later in the day when all my meetings had concluded. I have found that this method never seems to work and this was the case today. I had to head into the office for several meetings and I found myself in the office much longer than anticipated. It is amazing how fast time goes and before I realized it half the day was over. My legs were a bit sore and taking the day off was the right prescription as I really taper into the marathon next week.

It was fun hanging out in a “real” office environment today and I have to admit I do miss the social interaction of a “real” office. I am still feeling my way around the “home” office environment and yes, more does get accomplished since the interruptions of that social atmosphere are very limited; however; there is something to be said for those interruptions. I had to hearken back to the days where I would venture to an office everyday and invariably my day would be interrupted with those interactions. I probably wasn’t the most attentive manager as my compulsive gambler had consumed my life most of my career and thankfully those days are in the past. I really didn’t mind those interruptions and it was interesting really taking in the character of the office today. I do have a great job because every day there seems to be something different and I certainly won’t complain (hopefully ever!!).

I had completed all my tasks and I returned home where Grandma had volunteered to watch the children while my wife and I went to a movie. We decided to see Seven Pounds with Will Smith. I had read the reviews and it appears those reviewers weren’t very impressed but all the people I know who saw it said the movie was very good. I didn’t know much about the movie and the trailers were very vague. I knew it was a “serious” movie but knew nothing more. I went in with an opened mind and as I watched the “serious” movie I was unmoved in spite of the very heavy content.

I won’t give away any of the movie because that just wouldn’t be fair but I would say that the movie portrayed the ultimate “selfish” act as a “selfless” act. I had a hard time separating these two thoughts and as my wife welled up at the ending I didn’t have those same emotions. There were a few “critical” issues in the movie that made me think and I realize that the right road for me is to take one day at a time enjoying each of those moments because I have no idea what tomorrow will bring and the past is gone.

The movie was over and all of us were going out to dinner at our favorite local restaurant. We didn’t choose the right time because when we got to the restaurant I forgot the economy was in a recession since it was very crowded. We actually had to wait for a table and apparently there are still some people with some discretionary funds! Our table was finally ready and I was getting an uneasy feeling about our favorite restaurant but this was unfounded since the meal was very good and everyone had a wonderful time. The five of us sat very cozily in a booth and behind us was a couple with a newly born baby who was peaking over the seat into our booth. I had to smile because it does seem like yesterday when I went out with my mother and my newly born daughter who was about the same age as this baby, that was 10 years ago and in a few weeks my daughter will turn 11. Time does go by so quickly and thankfully now I understand the power of time. I no longer take this for granted and our time this evening was indeed very special.