Investing in Gold

Coincidentally, the year my wife lost her mind, was the same year we got married.  Although she has since completely regained her faculties, we have nevertheless remained together.  Just another example in the long list of undeserved miracles that is my life.   

At the time I was married, almost 13 years ago, my parents had been married for over 37 years.  I mention my parents for two reasons:  First of all, they too are an example of my undeserved blessings, and secondly, if you do the math you’ll notice that they are celebrating 50 years of marriage this year.  I’d like to clear this up for all of you non-mathematicians out there.   A little less than 13 plus a little more than 37 equals exactly 50.

Fifty years of marriage is no small feat, although small feet were involved.  There were 10 of them to be precise, 4 girl feet and 6 boy feet.  Now those feet have turned into more feet than I care to count at the moment, besides, I think I’ve carried the feet thing far enough.

Fifty years seems like an impossibly long amount of time.  Waiting a few seconds for a computer to boot up often seems like an eternity to me.  That’s probably because I’m not a good multi-tasker.   I see things one event at a time which makes time itself seem to be at a standstill.  However, I am often reminded that time does continue its methodical march forward with unrelenting force.  I see it most often when I notice the increasing size of the six little feet in my own home.  Sorry, I promise I won’t mention the feet thing again.  

This reminds me of a story.  I can’t remember where I read it, probably on a cheesy Hallmark card, but it seems appropriate:

I once met a man who’s journey began nearly a thousand lifetimes before

So I followed a while and he said with a smile, “I’ll try not to be a bore.

You see I move slowly, to those who don’t know me, and that causes some to yearn

For a much quicker pace, to move up in the race on the path to the prize they will earn.

But the more we progress the more you’ll request not to go so terribly fast,

For despite how it seems, as you wait for your dreams, there’s great joy in the times that have passed.”

So I took his advice, trying to be nice, but deep down I wondered if ever

I would really believe that he hadn’t deceived me just to show me that he was more clever.

Yet now I have seen how naïve I had been not to believe what he knew,

As the days quickly speed by and I wonder why I can’t just stop and enjoy the view.

I could never understand why my parents always wanted to get in the car just to go for a drive.  We would simply pull out of the driveway and take the long way home.  Sometimes it would only take a few minutes and sometimes it lasted several days.  We often called the longer drives vacations, but we all knew what my Dad had in mind… he was always on his way home.  I think I get it now.  My parents taught us to go out and have experiences and see new places, but to never forget the things that are most important.

Mom and Dad, Happy Anniversary!!  You’ve both led inspirational lives, but try not to let that go to your heads.  It’s good to look back and see how far you’ve come, maybe reminisce for a while, but keep in mind, the best is always yet to come.  That's the way I learned it anyway.