An Update From The Kitchen

Well, it's been another one of those weeks. An eye opener for sure. One of those where the urgency of life gets ramped up a bit. If you know me and have followed this blog at all, you know I periodically get reflective and introspective. This is almost always spurred by the death of either a friend or a famous person, or, on a bad week a couple of famous people.

This was one of those weeks. Today I got word that the brother of a friend from the old neighborhood passed away. Truthfully, I'd only met the gentleman once, and ironically enough it was at a funeral for another close friend's mother. He seemed like a nice guy and was right around my age.

The other death this week was Merle Haggard. One of country musics biggest stars. I never knew much of his music, but when I was in Nashville, many of the groups I saw kept playing his music. He is one of the guys that were huge when I was growing up and somehow it just kind of hit me.

Then, last night, Donna had gone up to bed to read and Ben was up studying. As I was turning out the lights downstairs, I started thinking about how empty this house is going to be when Ben moves out. And I thought about how many memories are held within these walls. Memories of those tiny bodies dancing in the living room. It made me wistful and sad.

So I can't emphasize enough how important it is to:

Nashville, TN

  • Tell the family you live with and see everyday that you love them. Everyday.
  • Forgive people and shed your anger baggage.
  • Dance to the radio in the kitchen
  • Take care of yourself, but also
  • Eat too much ice cream once in a while
  • Take that spontaneous trip to Nashville or (fill-in-the-blank). You'll never forget it.
  • Listen to the J. Geils Band LOUD
  • Hug your kids. Laugh with them.
  • Vote! 
  • Work hard, like you're paying yourself.
  • Over tip that good waitperson.
  • Read the classics, or contemporary, or local, or poetry or the back of a cereal box, but READ!
  • Pay somebody's coffee forward at work.
  • Create something. Journal, paint, sing, play, build, architect, design, cook, brew, sculpt. It is an expression of yourself that wants to be released and will make you a better person.
  • Lose some weight - get in shape. You'll feel better and live longer, God willing.
  • Sing when you're alone.
  • Pray often and hard
  • Have coffee or lunch with that old friend.
  • Laugh at stupid cat videos. 
  • Grow those dreads, shave your head, color your hair, join a book club.

I don't mean to preach, it's just that life is way too short to waste. Only you can make it into what it could be. Leave a good story behind. I have to go now, because the radio's on in the kitchen.

Blogging off...

Comments

Jo Balistreri said…
Your blogs always leave me with something to think about. I look forward to them. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to share your life.
Jim Landwehr said…
Thank you, Jo. They all come from the heart. Some easier than others. :-)
Jon Grayson said…
Jim, as always, warm words that aim for heads/hearts of readers. Thanks for continuous reminders on the miracle of life and the gratitude we owe...just expressing that gratitude helps me pause and feel blessed (note to reCAPTCHA, I am not a robot)

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