Goals. Short term, long term, in-between, everyone has or
has had goals of some sort. Essentially, goals seem to be a tangible thing that
one can reach out and touch. The most common are New Year’s resolutions, which
are usually broken before they are barely started…all hail those lofty goals
brought in by the over-indulgences of the past year. People seem to have more
luck with Lenten goals, be they giving up soft drinks, or doing a kind deed a day,
but once Easter hits, boom! They are dismissed – penance served and time off
for good behavior. Young people tend to make life goals – be a millionaire by
age 30, be a doctor, nurse, ballerina, or cowboy. High school and college aged
people just want to make it thru finals and to summer. Sometimes they are
attainable fairly easily, and sometimes they are mere pipe dreams: wouldn’t it
be nice if….
The mister and I were recently spending a lovely evening
on the deck, listening to tunes and randomly talking when we somehow got off
onto the subject of perfect moments, those events and places in time that make
one smile and feel deeply contented when brought to mind. Here are a few of
ours (and yes, we tended to have the same ones.)
Friday nights spent on the mister’s folk’s patio, with family,
friends, music, drink, food and much laughter. Attendees ranged from teens to
60’s and all enjoyed. We were relaxed and complete.
A day at Rock Lane Lodge west of Branson, sitting in the
shade of the balcony, eating, drinking, and playing endless games of Yahtzee
and Zilch. I was five months pregnant, almost 40, and unknowingly about to
spend the next few months in and out of the hospital, lying on my left side in
order to keep being pregnant as long as possible. I recall the time as the
perfect calm before the storm. Followed by that winter standing next to the
crib of our miracle baby and just watching him sleep, deep in the love of new
parents, wishing for him the world.
Another day at the upper pool at Rock Lane Lodge, where
the kid, at approximately age eight, had us dropping our jaws as he taught
himself complex dives.
Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves, laughing around the
table with family, and then watching the nephew and nieces go crazy.
A night at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, where we went to
the pizza parlor at the bottom level of the spiral staircase leading to the
Folly Bergere, and people watched while we shared a pie and a pitcher of beer.
Bursting our buttons with pride, as the kid set a school
record in cross country, and lettered all four years in track and cross
country, despite having no ACL. Had it not been for knee surgery disrupting the
last half of cross country his senior year, he would have been the first to go
to state all four years. For a teenager to persevere in that much pain for so
long is a tribute to his determination and dedication, and that alone gives us
contentment in knowing we raised him to conquer the odds.
Evening after evening spent on our deck, doing nothing
except talking, laughing, listening to music, with a few good snacks and
libations.
I see a pattern here and it does not contain things. All
those precious moments consist of being together and appreciating what we have.
Other than the small amount of money it took for a couple of mini vacations,
our most precious memories involve ourselves, our family, music, and time to
relax. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone took the time out to appreciate
what they have rather than what they want? As I told the mister the other
night, when I look at what I have, I have everything I really ever wanted….a
family and a home. Sure we had a decent (at times) jobs that helped to purchase
our home, as well as 7,593 pair of running shoes for the kid over the years,
but our contentment does not lie in things, but in moments.
I challenge you to get off the possession bandwagon, and
search for the peace and harmony perfect moments can give. I would be willing
to bet that you find the same thing. As Hitch said, it’s not the breaths you
take, but the moments that take your breath away.
