He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following fate with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.
For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth and now only those who loved him knows what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So I think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile... Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?
-Linda Ellis
The dash, there's so much to say about the dash in my grandpa's life. He wasn't the sweet,
Kindhearted man who would quickly embrace me and smoother me in kisses but he showed me he loved me in many other ways and taught me valuable lessons along the way.
When I was a small child he owned a tv repair shop. (yes, I know this shows my age because younger people are wondering wth is a tv repair shop) along with tv repairs he sold candy. In order for me to get a treat I had to "work" in the shop all day. My other friends were given candy by their grandparents as soon as they walked in the door, but grandpa made me work for mine. He taught me at a young age that there are no free meals and you have to work hard for what you want.
My grandpa didn't overly show love and affection but he always had a can of planters peanuts and an available space on his lap. I spent many summer nights watching tv on his lap with my hands in the bottom of the peanut canister. Since I had small hands he let me reach in and get the peanuts out for him.
We also spent many evenings playing UNO at the kitchen table. He was relentless. Never
once did he let me win. He kept the rule book close by so he could challenge anyone that he thought was cheating.
When I was around 9 or 10 I found a grand tree at the very end of his property. I decided that this was the best tree for a tree house. I gathered some boards and nails from his barn and I built the best tree house ever! Well, at least in my mind it was grand.
20+ years later he started clearing his land. The one tree that he said could not be cut down was the home of my tree house. 2 rotten boards remained. He may not of smothered me in kisses when I walked through his door but he said I love you all the time in his own way. That's how my grandpa was, he was a man of action, always true to his word and stubborn as hell...
There is so much more I could write about grandpa, but I won't. Today we lay him to rest along side grandma. I find comfort knowing they are together once again and neither is suffering.
I love you Grandpa
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