"Twenty four hours from Tulsa", so the song went. Fact is, it's been more than 24 little hours since I got into town. Actually, it's been 24 quick years. Showed up with $100 in my pocket and a wife and 4 kids back in Michigan.
That was a long time ago but...That 24 years seems like 24 hours ago. That $100 held me over for a few weeks since I was sleeping on the floor of a complete stranger's apartment. I met him, a fellow book salesman, actually he was my competition. Seems he had some compassion on a fellow book peddler forced into a company transfer Christmas week.
Didn't plan to stay but a few weeks, at least until the Christmas season had passed and the New Year got started. It's hard to find a job day after Christmas, and that's when they said I had to be in California for training if I wanted to stay with the Company.With a new born, 3 little girls, a wife and a mortgage - well, I didn't have a whole lot of options at the time.
So there I was sending my paychecks home and looking for daily miracles. I probably prayed more during that 6 months than I did the whole 2 years I was in and out of Viet Nam. Miracles? I could write a book on miracles!That was 24 years ago - last year we paid off our California home - this year the baby boy moved out to set up housekeeping with his new bride. It's all moving so fast - last week one of my closest friends dropped dead with a heart attack.
Guess I had better savor the moments because it's time to focus on what is REAL. So what is real?The only thing I can figure out to be real are the relationships with my kids and my wife and a handful of special friends. Those special moments in life are when I can stop and realize that they are the true REALITY of my life. They are my fortune, my inheritance, my blessing from God Himself.
Mistakes? Oh I've made a few - but this isn't the time to carry those around - no! it's time to be grateful, to be thankful for life and that I'm still breathing air without the help of a little green bottle and a tube.It's great to be alive!
THINK ABOUT IT!
That was a long time ago but...That 24 years seems like 24 hours ago. That $100 held me over for a few weeks since I was sleeping on the floor of a complete stranger's apartment. I met him, a fellow book salesman, actually he was my competition. Seems he had some compassion on a fellow book peddler forced into a company transfer Christmas week.
Didn't plan to stay but a few weeks, at least until the Christmas season had passed and the New Year got started. It's hard to find a job day after Christmas, and that's when they said I had to be in California for training if I wanted to stay with the Company.With a new born, 3 little girls, a wife and a mortgage - well, I didn't have a whole lot of options at the time.
So there I was sending my paychecks home and looking for daily miracles. I probably prayed more during that 6 months than I did the whole 2 years I was in and out of Viet Nam. Miracles? I could write a book on miracles!That was 24 years ago - last year we paid off our California home - this year the baby boy moved out to set up housekeeping with his new bride. It's all moving so fast - last week one of my closest friends dropped dead with a heart attack.
Guess I had better savor the moments because it's time to focus on what is REAL. So what is real?The only thing I can figure out to be real are the relationships with my kids and my wife and a handful of special friends. Those special moments in life are when I can stop and realize that they are the true REALITY of my life. They are my fortune, my inheritance, my blessing from God Himself.
Mistakes? Oh I've made a few - but this isn't the time to carry those around - no! it's time to be grateful, to be thankful for life and that I'm still breathing air without the help of a little green bottle and a tube.It's great to be alive!
THINK ABOUT IT!
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