Much to the chagrin of my children, I like to keep certain things. As a matter of fact under my bed in a box I have calendars dating back over thirty years. Each one tells a little story of our life.
Every new year I unwrap a new wall calendar and as the days come and go, I fill the squares on each calendar with doctor and dental appointments, family and personal activities and of course mark the days when visitors are coming or we are heading on a trip or down to our Florida home.
Now that we have been retired for many years one would think we would have many "empty" days on each month's page, but in fact, the opposite is true. We have an abundance of activities to keep us busy.
This year has been no exception...and it is just half over!
The spring and early summer of 2015 will go down in our history as one filled with many visitors, one extra family living with us, along with new medical dramas unfolding in the background.
Calendars! Yes they chronicle the life I am living. I'm older and I tire more easily, but finding each day a gift and living it fully makes life exciting, unpredictable and amazing.
Time goes by and Hubby and I will soon be heading back to Florida and then be off on another cruise. These are the fun years of retirement and as long as we are healthy and able-bodied we will keep on traveling. However, even as we think of the excitement and new worlds to discover, I relish all the memories I have made this summer.
As I glance back over the days that have come and gone this year I have already stored in my memory:
making birthday cakes & celebrating life's special occasions with people coming together.
reconnecting with my little "far-away" grandbaby who calls me BuggaBugga.
loving two little girls running around my house and the endless snuggles and kisses.
showing off Chicago and enjoying the city anew.
having all four of my children under one roof.
planning new adventures on land and sea.
enjoying another trip with the girlfriends I have known forever.
appreciating the uniqueness and abilities of each of my children and their spouses.
experiencing exciting house-hunting adventures.
creating new memories with family who live faraway but touch our lives for a few days.
trusting that doctors know their stuff, and completing my Medical Misadventure story.
enduring unexpected good-byes with tears that can't be stopped.
knowing that flowers and storms are part of life.
Oh, so many memories in six short months! I praise God that my life is so full and so good and so interesting, but most of all I am grateful for each person I know and for their unique ability to touch and enrich my life.
The calendar is my friend. It reminds me of where I have been, who I have been with and all the good times and hard times that I have lived through. And it reminds me that I can keep on going, looking forward to the blank pages ahead just waiting to be filled and remembering the full pages which remind me of where I have been and why I am the person I am today.
May each of your calendar days be full and happy and worth remembering.
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