Friday, January 2, 2015

Forever Young

When I was young and even into my middle age, I wanted many things - material and otherwise. I wanted a career - several careers - some I achieved with success -  some not. 

What else did I want? Well, I wanted to be thin as Mick Jagger and handsome as Sal Mineo. I loved travel and good food, museums and European churches. I wanted to speak Italian and Chinese fluently. Oh, the list goes on. 

It's funny how things work out. I think I confused liking with wanting. I have had much in life available to me. I used to think that giving up things like people and relationships for my career was romantic. I thought a lot of things - all ridiculous - all stupid. But, I don't beat myself up about it. After all, that is what being young is all about - misplaced emotions, wants, desires and bad decisions. We all survive our youth for the most part unscathed. 

Life has a way of stepping on dreams - thankfully - silly dreams - preposterous youthful plans. If you stay true to your nature, it all comes out in the wash. 

From a recent tragic event, I am once again reminded that the only goal I ever have these days is cherishing the love of my life. That nothing has any worth without the sharing. A good book, a movie, a gourmet morsel, a laugh, a few pounds dropped a surge of inspiration means nothing without my love.  

Wish we could all know this when we are young. Well, maybe we do. Perhaps we let it lurk about letting this notion play peek-a-boo with our nerves. Somehow we know it will overtake us when we don't need our many silly desires anymore. We will let it in and thank the stars we've reached the understanding that love is all there is. 

Specific love is the great achievement. It is the worthy success. 

I am a success. I have a love that satisfies all my notions of making it in this world. Everything else is frosting on the cake. To tell you the truth, I always preferred banana bread without the icing.  

2014 was a very good year for me - for us.

2014 ended on a tragic note - two days shy of 2015. It is a reminder how fragile we are - how touch and go life is. 

Cherish your life -  bumps and all. If you have a specific love or two or three, you dare not complain. What's important is that you have your life and that you love and even more importantly that you are loved.  Tragedy can bring you to your senses. 

I cherish my memories of Jenny. What a force she was - funny and smart and beautiful. Jenny was youth. And, now, she will be forever young.  

                                                      



It is too sad to try and figure it out. 

A happy heart can be broken. My happy heart hurts for Jenny's loving family. I wish their painful journey of grief subsides into a spiritual sorrow and ends in love and acceptance. I am hoping today as we all strive to bravely say goodbye to Jenny tomorrow and the next final day, that we remember that no one really dies. The soul is eternal. 

24 comments:

  1. Beautifully stated Uncle Tony. I also grieve for this life that ended too abruptly and the loved ones left behind. AM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, AM - seeing Jenny today lying in the casket was too much - it is odd and disorienting to view someone so young - usually someone much older lays in the coffin - as expected - but this.....

      Delete
  2. Beautifully said Uncle T. Forever young Jenny will be. Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this thank you T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your beautiful songs today. Jenny would approve.

      Delete
  4. Beautiful, and true. Love to you and family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So very sorry to hear of your loss

    ReplyDelete
  6. my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary - good to see you, JoEllen & Nancy yesterday

      Delete
  7. Thanks everybody for your kind words

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is downright beautiful. Thanks for relaying her kind spirit into words.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. The blog was profound and very touching...my prayers are with you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm sorry for your loss Tony. Your words are filled with wisdom, gathered through a life well lived. Thank you for sharing them with us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My sincere thoughts and prayers to all I feel Jenny is now in the loving arms of her eternal family.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So sorry to hear - what a tragic loss.

    ReplyDelete