Journal entry by Al Negstad — a minute ago
What are we here for? What is the purpose of life? "Making a difference" is a recent 'catch phrase' and not a bad one. Persons like to feel that their life has a made a difference. Another concept with cachet today is 'paying it forward'. It is also essentially positive. Life slides by very quickly. As I like to say "I never knew I would get old so fast." Fifty-five years of relationship with Joanne and now fifteen+ plus months in the land of grief, where did it go? There was certainly much effort and attention to issues that ultimately didn't matter. There was definitely much neglect of smelling the roses. Ensconced in this delightful Air B&B, I'm struck by how perfect a setting it would be for Joanne. It's a place I'm happy to visit but would eventually make me claustrophobic while Joanne would delight in the huge trees, birds at the multiple feeders, friendly cat, neighbor woodchuck and the ambiance in the sweet little house. Long, deep conversations with Gerry would evoke the 50+ plus years of sister-hood they shared. Significant time with Lisa would please her. Yes, the presence of absence is acute, while I still feel blessed, learning to dance again with a limp. The poem by Gioia speaks eloquently to the transience of life. Don't neglect deep conversations with your loved ones while you have the chance. Driving through the areas of Dayton devastated by thirteen tornadoes on Memorial Day is eloquent testimony to the fickleness of life...celebrate what you have while you have it (them).Takk for alt,Al
The Road
by Dana Gioia
The Road
by Dana Gioia
He sometimes felt that he had missed his life
By being far too busy looking for it.
Searching the distance, he often turned to find
That he had passed some milestone unaware,
And someone else was walking next to him,
First friends, then lovers, now children and a wife.
They were good company–generous, kind,
But equally bewildered to be there.
By being far too busy looking for it.
Searching the distance, he often turned to find
That he had passed some milestone unaware,
And someone else was walking next to him,
First friends, then lovers, now children and a wife.
They were good company–generous, kind,
But equally bewildered to be there.
He noticed then that no one chose the way—
All seemed to drift by some collective will.
The path grew easier with each passing day,
Since it was worn and mostly sloped downhill.
The road ahead seemed hazy in the gloom.
Where was it he had meant to go, and with whom?
All seemed to drift by some collective will.
The path grew easier with each passing day,
Since it was worn and mostly sloped downhill.
The road ahead seemed hazy in the gloom.
Where was it he had meant to go, and with whom?
“The Road” by Dana Gioia from 99 Poems: New and Selected. From The Writer's Almanac
Pictures 1 & 2, Air B&B, pictures 3-5, storm damage a mile from our house.
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