the last time
This is possibly the last time we will visit this location in Tennessee. This town of Cookeville is the present residence of OD (older daughter) but all that is about to change. They have officially informed us that SIL is being promoted and they are moving to Freeport, Texas. This is a good opportunity for him but will increase the miles between us from about 380 to an almost even 1000 miles. This move is to take place for SIL starting at the end of June and the family is to move in early July.
As you might have gathered, we are here in Tennessee for a visit. The purpose of our trip is to take care of young ones while OD and SIL take an anniversary junket out west that was already planned before the big news. We left semi-early on Saturday morning and arrived around noon to their place of abode. Our charges are GM2 and GM5 – of course the GM is for grunt monkey and that is the same as grandchildren.
OD and SIL got away in the early pm on Saturday and so for the next few days it will be the Spice and I with the young ones and two dachshunds. These two canines think they are the actual owners of the place and that we people are just here for their convenience. The older, short-hair, usta-be male is Bogey and he is not quite up to par. The younger, long-hair, usta-be female, Jasmine, is the much more energetic one and always in Bogey’s face – not vicious, just almost intolerably friendly.
Then I thought about the phrase ‘the last time’ and pondered about what a melancholy saying that was – sad at times and yet very memory evoking at others. ‘The last time’ I saw Paris, France was the summer of 1962, I was single, 21 years old and should have been very happy to be there. Such was not the case because I had already been there 22 months, was very homesick and had had enough of Europe in general and France in particular.
There was a time that I ran on a regular basis and for many years, ‘the last time’ I ran is listed in a personal record book in my study – I always kept a record of time, date and distance. Because of the stress on my lower back, I am now relegated to speed walking – and am very happy to still be able to do that.
The date was July 1, 2002 and this was ‘the last time’ I reported to work for BellSouth Telephone Company. This retirement ‘adventure’ has not been regretted but I still have trouble getting myself in a daily routine. My propensity is to do just exactly what I want to do, but this doesn’t lend itself to a lot of preventive maintenance. This in turn tends toward, no, demands, reactive maintenance and this in turn doesn’t evoke happy faces from Spice.
Some day we will each have a time that will be ‘the last time’ we breathe. But this is not a real problem from an eternal perspective if we have taken care of the “sin problem”. God offers forgiveness and cleansing from any wrong we have ever done but we do have to make the choice to accept it. ec
As you might have gathered, we are here in Tennessee for a visit. The purpose of our trip is to take care of young ones while OD and SIL take an anniversary junket out west that was already planned before the big news. We left semi-early on Saturday morning and arrived around noon to their place of abode. Our charges are GM2 and GM5 – of course the GM is for grunt monkey and that is the same as grandchildren.
OD and SIL got away in the early pm on Saturday and so for the next few days it will be the Spice and I with the young ones and two dachshunds. These two canines think they are the actual owners of the place and that we people are just here for their convenience. The older, short-hair, usta-be male is Bogey and he is not quite up to par. The younger, long-hair, usta-be female, Jasmine, is the much more energetic one and always in Bogey’s face – not vicious, just almost intolerably friendly.
Then I thought about the phrase ‘the last time’ and pondered about what a melancholy saying that was – sad at times and yet very memory evoking at others. ‘The last time’ I saw Paris, France was the summer of 1962, I was single, 21 years old and should have been very happy to be there. Such was not the case because I had already been there 22 months, was very homesick and had had enough of Europe in general and France in particular.
There was a time that I ran on a regular basis and for many years, ‘the last time’ I ran is listed in a personal record book in my study – I always kept a record of time, date and distance. Because of the stress on my lower back, I am now relegated to speed walking – and am very happy to still be able to do that.
The date was July 1, 2002 and this was ‘the last time’ I reported to work for BellSouth Telephone Company. This retirement ‘adventure’ has not been regretted but I still have trouble getting myself in a daily routine. My propensity is to do just exactly what I want to do, but this doesn’t lend itself to a lot of preventive maintenance. This in turn tends toward, no, demands, reactive maintenance and this in turn doesn’t evoke happy faces from Spice.
Some day we will each have a time that will be ‘the last time’ we breathe. But this is not a real problem from an eternal perspective if we have taken care of the “sin problem”. God offers forgiveness and cleansing from any wrong we have ever done but we do have to make the choice to accept it. ec
posted by mreddie | 3:14 PM
11 Comments:
Enjoy the grandkids. 1,000 miles will be such a distance to travel.
Did you know this posted tiwce?
granny - The enjoyment may have to be spaced far apart - in time (and miles). Don't know how it posted twice and I had a time figuring out how to unpost the extra one - old dog, new tricks - first time for everything I guess. ec
Enjoy your visit with family, Bogey and Jasmine included.
I often think of this phrase 'the last time'...and it makes me stop, and smell the lilacs, or really, really look at my grand-daughter. We never know when we will be called away, never to see winter again, or children playing in the park. I don't take any of it for granted anymore. I'm too old.
Wow! I thousand miles between you and OD? I have had that distance—actually twice that when #1 son lived in San Francisco. It isn’t easy when one wants to visit.
Please express my wishes to OD and SIL for a happy anniversary celebration!
I’d not considered the phrase “the last time” in the manner you suggest. You are so right: it can invoke melancholy memories.
As for taking my last breath, I remember that the promise is that it is the prelude to a far greater existence and the moment, as Paul wrote to the congregation at Corinth, “when this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’”
Acceptance is half the battle. I've known many friends who turn their back on it because it's "just too easy... it can't REALLY be that easy." But it is.
grunt monkey -- my dad used that term on my sibs and me when we were kids... made me laugh when I read it.
bonita - So true, I will enjoy them while I can until it becomes a long distance relationship.
SSN - I sure don't want to use that phrase to describe 'the last time' I was sane. :) And I do praise God for His promises of everlasting life.
jayleigh - It is so sad that folks can have peace just for the asking and they choose something else because they say that it just can't be that easy. ec
Sorry to hear about your daughter's move with the grandchildren. Sure you will miss them. The youngest dog sounds very much like my youngest, Lakota, always barking in the face of the oldest. Wonder she tolerates him! The older I get the more I understand about accepting the will of the Lord. Too bad it takes so long for us to realize it. Many blessings, Janie Marie
Hi Mr Eddie ~~ I hope you enjoy your time with the grandkids. I have often
wondered how your OD is and it sounds as though she is better. Hope she and sil enjoy their break.
Sorry they are moving so far from you, but that happens. I don't see either of my girls much. Once (or maybe twice) a year for my youngest, and it was 7 years as Julie is about 1300 miles away. Take care, Merle.
CGS - I will miss them for sure but at present we still have four of the grands near home. Jasmine seldom barks at Bogey but is always licking his face and wanting to play.
merle - OD's shoulder is doing much better, she is still doing her therapy at home. I'm sad for you at not getting to see your daughters any more than that. I will still have the one daughter close - at the moment. ec
That's a long way away, but I guess everybody else has said that. I wish you well.
AC - Really tough when I think that I won't get to see many of their growing up moments up close and personal. Long distance is not nearly so happy. ec
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