Marching Through Time

For our family the end of an era occurred recently. My Uncle Hollis passed away. He died in a manner I guess we all wish for, he laid down to take a nap and slipped away. He was in his early 90's. He had lived an active work filled life. He owned and managed rental property around Traverse City, MI, ran paper routes, worked as a handyman, just about anything to provide for his family.

Hollis was my mother's brother-in-law, and as much a part of the larger family as anyone. He was quite a bit younger than my parents, but lived in there generation as a young boy. He knew both my parents when he was a little boy and could tell us stories of the early history of my parents.

Now, there are no more of that generation. My parents are dead, their brothers and sisters are dead, and their extended spouses are dead. There is no one left of the original generation. A new line of older family members take that senior place. Of that number, I believe there are 15 offspring from the first generation, about 11 are left. The oldest members are in my direct family, then the age drops off somewhat. But it seems to me it is like a line of soldiers marching through life, as we grow older we take our places in the front line and eventually are eliminated. Then the next group and so on. Kind of chilling, but that's life. Life is a terminal condition, we will not survive it. So, I resolve to make good use of the time I have left. I resolve to stay in contact with my family members, to share the joys of our time together, to listen to their fears, and to reassure that in the good graces of life we number well.

The end of 2007

Today an old twinge hit my tummy. I recall when I was a little kid that when the new year began I would get a little twinge in my stomach when I realized that Christmas and the holiday season were finally gone. It was a twinge of loss and sadness that the joy, the color, the music and of course the gifts were over. I have always gotten sentimental over the holidays, even when there was not much to get sappy over. A year ago at this time I was facing serious abdominal surgery that resulted in the removal of a cancerous polyp from my colon. Even then it was a good holiday. Today I was going back to work. The holiday was OK. Yet there it was, that old twinge that signifies the end of a oft repeated season. It was kind of like an old friend's brief visit regardless of the emotion. As a child I remember having to put my toys away and get ready for school. I never liked school. I thought no better job existed in the world than being a kid and exploring the neighborhood, the hills around our neighborhood, the lake shore, anything out doors was better than school. Oh well, I still kind of enjoy that twinge even though it tends to be a little melancholy. Welcome 2008.