My Bucket List: Living My Dash: May 2013

The Dash - Linda Ellis (1996)

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone, from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent YOUR dash?

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Three more items done!

1. Do something truly spontaneous
What could be more spontaneous than deciding to take a NINE HOUR CAR TRIP to Pennsylvania by MYSELF with a TODDLER and SIX WEEK OLD BABY only THREE DAYS before it was time to leave??? I was homesick and wanted everyone to meet Maddie before her May baptism so I asked Jon if he minded and when he said to go, I planned the trip. I wish Jon could have joined us but I think I did pretty good alone with twi kids for six days!
2. FINALLY finish the wills
Jon and I have been so busy since we opened the law office in January 2012 that our will consisted of a few funeral declaration scribbled on a post-it note, unsigned draft of a will that assigned a guardian for minor children IN THE EVENT WE HAD SOME, and a trust that had no assets described in it. We have been so busy encouraging our clients to get their wills in order that we didn't take the time to finish ours. So, I finally sat down and got all the documents in order. Jon was still so busy he didn't completely read every section of his will before he signed it - wait until he reads section 4 - just kidding, honey!
3. Have a chocolate spa treatment with my sister at the Hershey Hotel
Emmy and I scheduled our chocolate massages while I was in PA over Mother's Day. I have always wanted to go to the Hershey Hotel for a spa day! Although we couldn't make a day of it, even the hour and a half away from reminding my husband about something I told him twice before or yelling at Jonathan for once again for not using his "inside-voice" was a wonderful break. The staff treated us like queens! And, it was Emmy's first massage, so it was fun treating her to it and hearing her rave about it afterward. Perfect Mother's Day gift!

I also accomplished something on the list that was not supposed to be completed by age 30, but the opportunity presented itself. In January, my Mom's cat, Rascal, passed away. She stated then that she didn't want another animal - she couldn't handle losing another one. Then, when I was visiting in March with the kids, the issue of getting a new cat came up twice and she was excited about it. So, for Mother's Day, Emmy and I adopted a kitten for her. The kitten was a stray and was hit by a car. An adoption agency and foster family nursed it back to health and gave him all his shots and put him up for adoption. Mom named him Snowflake and they are becoming quick friends!

Rascal

Snowflake

Buy someone a pet - check

I have gotten several other items almost finished but can't check them off yet!