Life after Time Passes

All my children, grandchildren and spouses 2014

Last year at Thanksgiving we had that rare occasion of all my children and their families in the same place at the same time. It happens so infrequently as the rush of their lives intrudes, as the space between us all grows by States. But when one looks at a picture like this, at least from my perspective, I see what time passes means, to have gotten to live long enough to have a picture like that. It does give meaning to Thanksgiving and being grateful.
     I think that as each year passes, we all take time to look back. Look back the year, maybe even look back the long life that has been granted. As I said in the last blog, the idea of being grateful is good for health, but I also think that as I get older, one of the benefits is I have more to be grateful for.
Experience, hard won by mistakes and time, takes on a new shiny luster when viewed from the lofty perch of time passes. To have accomplished, to have made a contribution and to have set a new group of engaged with life young adults into the world is a reminder of what perseverance brings when mixed with time. One needn't start tallying their place in life with a picture like that one above, Enough is said there.
     But I have lived long enough, time has passed enough, that I can find peace in my family. I can look forward to what surprises they will bring to my life as I continue to make a contribution in return for the air I breathe. I think that time passes and your grateful list grows while I continue to experience new and wonderful things. This strange thing called life, colored by each of our own perceptions is pretty cool. I can't wait for tomorrow.
Will by the River

Thanksgiving and the Grateful List

It was an interesting week leading up to Thanksgiving.The Salida Brass played at the funeral for our fallen member Bob Cook. Then later I went to Aspen with my friend Ralph and we finished this Beech Bonanza we had worked on to repair the metal on the bottom of the cowl that had ground off in a gear up landing.  Two endings that came on top of each other.

       I have been on this project almost two years, working over there when we could. You would think I am grateful that it is done, which I am, but I am also grateful for the experience of the work.

      Just before Thanksgiving I read an article about having a grateful list. The author was trying to write something he was grateful for each day. The idea is that it increases happiness in your life. This happiness seems to also improve health. But his premise was our consumer society breeds dissatisfaction. 

We end up wanting more and never being happy with what  we have. This article caused me to review all that I am grateful for. On this Thanksgiving weekend of family and friends I have much to be thankful for. 

It seemed to me that this feeling of thankfulness was everywhere I was, with family, even just out and about. The lighting of Christmas mountain, with fireworks, and freshly falling snow was very much the holiday season. As I looked around at my friends and neighbors in Salida, they had expressions of gratitude for their community. 

       Keeping a grateful list was a family habit some years ago, but not lately, this article has me thinking it might be a practice again. At least for me, I have so much to be grateful for, and as I watch my grandchildren play, or finish work that was a joy, to use skills learned over a lifetime, it is with satisfaction that I can think of much to list. I hope everyone can enter this holiday season with gratefulness, to share of themselves and get back even more than they give. Be grateful and look to the future with optimism. Happy Holidays from Will by the River

A good life passes

It is November. They are starting to groom the slopes up at Monarch. We are well into the change of the seasons. While this evidence of the cycle of life goes on it's steady course a well lived life came to an end this week. Bob Cook, a founding member of Salida Brass, died of cancer at the age of sixty. Bob grew up in Salida, he and his Brother ran a hardware store and Bob went on to working as a accountant.
       This kind of steady and quiet life is such foundation for so much that gets done in America. This kind of life is, for me, a reminder of "one day at a time" is all we really have a promise of. Planning, obsessing if you will, about the future is shown to be the folly it is, when a good life ends before it's time, such as Bob's.
     The Salida Brass, with the founding father of the group visiting,  will gather this Saturday the 14th of November to honor Bob. We will be playing Christ the Lord is Risen as Bob did every Easter for 44 years.
      Perseverance is a human quality that I have come to appreciate more as I have aged. I feel it is the foundation of accomplishment. Certainly to accomplish you have to start, but, you have to also finish.  I view Bob's life as well lived.
       Rest in peace Bob, we will carry on, we will be steady, we will try and live with integrity, one day at a time..