NO REGRETS

Sometimes pondering on my life, the past and present, I feel that I’m content with the happenings that have taken place.  I had been watching the movie, “Meet Joe Black”, with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins when towards the end of the movie, Anthony Hopkins is dancing with his favorite daughter and tells her that he has, no regrets, about his life and accomplishments.  He wouldn’t change anything.

That’s the way I feel as well.  Thinking of what I’ve done in my life and the experiences I’ve had and seen I wouldn’t change a thing.  With the close bonding between my mother and myself, I felt compelled to share my feelings to my son since we’ve had the similar bonding but at a much younger age.  So one night I texted him that I wanted him to know that if anything were to ever happen to me that I had no regrets about my existence on this earth and felt content with everything that I’d accomplished.  That I wasn’t now afraid of death even though I hope to continue more experiences for quite a long time.

He, of course, got concerned thinking I was comtemplating suicide with everything that has happened over the past financial challenges I’ve endured and phoned me.  I explained that that wasn’t the case and never could be.  I just wanted him to know that he could continue on his life path knowing that his dad passed on a happy man with “NO REGRETS”.

So I continue on my path of existence eagerly hoping for continuing experiences and make the most out of this existence on this planet Earth.

“NO REGRETS”

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

daveyenterprise@yahoo.com

THE EULOGY NEVER GIVEN: FOR MOTHER

The following eulogy is what I had prepared for my mother but never got the chance to give since, at age 90, there are very few people left to offer condolences.  It was more an informal affair like that of a visitation with friends coming and going.  I was saddened and disappointed that her great life experience couldn’t be shared so it’s here that I fulfill to her my promise we had laughingly agreed to.

“A PRAYER ANSWERED”

Written by Reverend Jim (son)

Mother, you were born February 14, 1920, a Valentine’s baby to your mother and father. “A Prayer Answered”.  The only daughter to be born and raised to a hard working father of the railroad in a small town of Kansas.

You were raised under very strict and harsh conditions by your controlling mother but received your outgoing personality from your father, a grandfather I never got to know but would loved to have met and spend young times with.  Due to your outgoing personality, you always made friends easily even though your mother always painted a negative approach to life whether it was religious or economic associations.

Even though you met those adverse negative conditions you were able to overcome them through music when you took up the violin and later piano.  Music gave you the avenue of escape which, I’m sure, your father was responsible.  He was the positive force in your young life. 

You graduated from high school and had the opportunity to go the University of Kansas but your mother put a halt to that because she felt it would be a bad influence.  Then you had the opportunity to attend secretarial business college in Kansas City and your father stepped in and put his foot down to your mother.  You were off to Kansas City and independent freedom from your controlling mother.  You loved your father dearly and the visits he would make on the train to come and see you (without your mother, of course).  “A Prayer Answered”

One of the greatest disappointments in your life came when your father passed away from a heart attack at the early age of 52.  You had, by this time, established yourself with the gas company of Kansas City and lived off the Plaza in an apartment.  The gas company is where you were to meet your future husband of many years to come.  “A Prayer Answered”

You told me many times that the best decision you ever made was joining the Unity School of Christianity Church where you learned to live a positive life.  Living for the day, not the past or future.  This positive influence spilled over to both of your sons.  I know it influenced my life and still does to this day.  “A Prayer Answered”

The second greatest disappointment in your life was the passing of your husband of 47 years.  I personally know that you grieved and missed our dad for over 10-years and had always wished you both could have made it to that 50 plus positive relationship you shared in your marital times.  You carried on involved in your Women’s Business Association, played volleyball into your early 70’s and your famous Charleston dance performance among many other activities with your many years at the middle school where you were a counselors’ secretary.  Let alone the kids and co-workers you had influenced in that position.

Your life was one of the most accomplished and blessed.  You and dad raised two fine successful sons, one with a doctorate degree in education and the other an accomplished professional in medical sales.  Even though, in these past later years of your life, you maintained a positive outlook I know you had your down times and frustrating challenges with the aging issues of mobility and health but you endured to the end.

Mom, for me it was a pleasure and an honor to be a care giver to you in the last 6-years of your life.  We both faced our challenges but I got to know and share with a very fine person and Mother, better than most have had a chance to do.  As you would always say, “It was meant to be”.  I know you and dad are together again and I look forward to being with you when my time comes.

My mother, born February 14, 1920 and passed peacefully February 22, 2010 at 2:42 pm at 90 years with me at her side, holding her hand through to the end.  “A Prayer Answered”

Prayer:  “Weep for Me Not”  Amen

Internment:  Ashes to be spread over fathers’ grave

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

daveyenterprise@yahoo.com

WHAT IF? Reflection on death

If it’s true that only 10% of brain function is known, although that may have changed with technological advances, then what of the other 90%.

What if, upon death, that the major function of the brain is to open a worm hole to another destination (heaven, planet, dimension) for the spiritual essence of who we are to ascend to another purpose and place.  It’s postulated that wormholes could be microscopically small and unseen and present all around us but not accessible on a conventional nature as we know it.

What if, string theory is correct and there are multiple universes where we exist as ourselves but are mirror images and outcomes of the pathways that are presented to us are representative of the different outcomes that may become.  The path we choose here defining us and the paths that we could have taken defining the other outcomes.

We hear of the near death experiences and the tunnel of light.  I personally know a person who was pronounced dead and experienced it.  He firmly believes what he experienced and it has changed his attitude on death and dying.  For people like him that have gone through this experience, it seems they have a better sense of knowing that there is more after death.  They’re just not privy to where they might be going afterward but that faith and hope are more relieving and acceptable when that day does come.

To the majority of us the “Day of Reckoning” will remain a mystery until that time comes but I believe there’s more to just a life of existence and then nothingness. 

WHAT IF? Keep the faith

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE: Tree Climbers

One of the best times in my childhood was during my tree climbing days.  The experience has always been with me throughout my entire life.  Anytime I notice the swaying of the tree tops with the wind I’m reminded of those days.

By the time I was old enough to experience these tree climbing ventures the elm trees had grown big and tall around the neighborhood.  My next door neighbor friend, Mikie, and I began climbing after seeing one of his older brothers  do it one day.  How we got away with it is beyond me especially from any of our parents.  I don’t recall my parents ever saying anything but had they I’m sure we would have found a way without their knowledge.  We never had any mishaps except for a few scratches here and there.

One of the most memorable experiences was high up in a maple tree in the front yard at Mikies.  He and I climbed to nearly the top on a breezy summer day and took positions in the strong fork of the tree.  It was the most exhilarating sensation to be sitting in the fork of the strong limb and literally swaying back and forth with the strong breeze.  I had never experienced relaxation like that and can’t think of anything like it in my life to this day so I remember that day and feeling when I need to relax.

Mikies older brother, who got us started in tree climbing, once made a bold statement that he was going to cross from one tree to another by going from one limb to the next tree’s limb.  Mikie and I didn’t believe he would chance it but he did.  In the evening at dinner I was sitting at the kitchen table and noticed out the window a figure crawling along the limb of one of the elm trees, in Mikies back yard, to another limb successfully.  I didn’t mention anything because I didn’t want my parents to maybe end those days of climbing so I watched silently while he accomplished what he said he would.  Lucky him because he did it right over power lines.

How any of us survived our early years still amazes me at times.

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperiences withjim.blogspot.com