How Would You Like To Be Remembered?

There is nothing that makes you feel old like going to the graduation of someone you knew when they were an infant. This weekend, I headed back to Indiana. I spent five years on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. This weekend, sweet Elizabeth graduated.

I lived with Elizabeth and her family for three years during that time. Elizabeth was just two when I moved in. We spent the next three years reading stories, going to the park, playing tag, and making cookies with her sister, Hannah, and later her brother, Jonathon. Her sister Sarah didn't come along until after I had headed to Illinois. I didn't get to know her. But I did enjoy hanging with her this weekend.

All weekend I found myself wishing I had kept in better contact with this great family. Though I do feel old that Elizabeth is now 18 and heading off to college, I was touched by the fond memories we shared.

Some of the things that we mentioned (aside from those mentioned above) remembering were things like the butterfly shaped birthday cake I made and Elizabeth helped decorate one year. Some of it was how Elizabeth screamed as an infant -- especially in the car. Her dad seemed bent on remembering the temperature. I am cold by nature and I lived in the basement. It's always colder in basements. He lamented not making it warmer for me. But honestly, that wasn't even close to things that readily came to my mind. There were too many good things from living there that stick out to me.

I was surprised by some of the things that people mentioned about me. Becca was also graduating. Her family came to Elizabeth's open house. They reminded me how she was so attached to her mom that she screamed when she was left in the nursery or with a sitter to the point that they just didn't leave her. I had forgotten volunteering to go spend some time with her and her brother over several days while their mom was present so she could get use to me. The idea was to make me a safe person so her parents could get out a bit.

I was touched by the warmth of the memories. It was affirming. I don't know how my time in Illinois measures up. It makes me want to strive to be that person again. Right now, I am so busy with two jobs and such that I wonder if the memories that would dominate now would be rushing off somewhere. But what stood out then was a kind of taking time for people. Somehow, I want to find away to get back to that. That's how I want to be remembered at every stage of life and not just one sliver.

That is my prayer tonight, that I would be known as one who takes time for people.

How would you like to be remembered?

Sarah, Asher the dog, Elizabeth, Hannah, & Jonathon

If You Remember This, Then ....

Last night I was at the bookstore. Somehow, a manager and I got on the topic of shows we watched when we were kids. Yes, this will date me, but here is the list. Which do you remember?

• School House Rocks as seen as part of Saturday morning cartoons -- Who says cartoons can't teach you anything? "I'm just a bill . . . ."
• Smufs -- Little blue people....
• Life before remotes -- Yes, once upon a time you had to get up to change the channel. Should I mention we only had 3 plus the local PBS channel to choose from?
• Life before microwaves -- If cooking is so much faster now, how come I still don't have any time? And how come I love my slow cooker?
• Real FLOPPY disks -- Yes, there was a reason for the "floppy" part.
• Road Runner, Tom & Jerry, and Bugs Bunny
• Life before internet -- Seriously, how did we connect?
• Rotary phones and having to answer to find out who is calling
  
• When the "original" Star Wars special effects were truly awe inspiring
• Going to the bank and having a pass book for your savings account
• Writing a paper on a typewriter
• PONG
  

What can you add to the list? If you remember most of that stuff, well, I hate to tell you, but we are both getting old.

If you don't remember any of it, I don't even want to hear it!

Oh, No. I Think I'm Getting Old

Sigh. I suppose it happens to everyone. I fear I am getting old. I'm plucking more grays. And even more decidedly, my eyes are changing. It's been years since I've had my eyes checked. In spite of a slight astigmatism in one eye (I don't know which), I've always had good vision.

Alas, the last few months I've noticed a definite change in my eyes. At first it was mostly when I was tired. But I started noticing it more and more. My eyes don't seem to be working together at times. I find myself squinting at times and closing one eye at others. So, I see the eye doctor later this week. I won't be surprised to find out that my age is catching up with me and need glasses -- especially for reading and working on the computer.

Sigh.