Objects are closer than they appear

learningI don’t sit in the passenger seat often. When I do, I always see the phrase on the side-view mirror, “OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.” This weekend is a perfect example of that. Since my last post, which was over three weeks ago, I have been busy – of all kinds – family, house, school, work, sports, a full schedule.

It has been a busy spring and since we returned from Florida, I have written two posts. I am without words, literally.

We had the flood and then, a couple of weekends ago, O and I visited my mom in Houston. We went to celebrate my mom’s 75th birthday and it was a good time. W had lacrosse and stayed home with B. We visited with my brothers and their families and saw B’s sister Jill on Friday and O stayed with her Friday night and visited with her older cousins, Sam and John. Of course, a visit to Houston and home comes with the requisite trips back in time to the town of my youth. So much has changed, yet some things remain the same. In general, I know my way around town, but places I knew as a young adult when I was learning to drive and after I had a car have changed, moved, or disappeared. We had dinners at Pappasitos a favorite Tex-Mex restaurant and Goode Company BBQ for Texas style BBQ brisket, Czech sausage, and incredible sauce all Houston-visit staples. However, the best parts were visiting with my mom and brothers, and watching O visit with her cousins and have a great time. It was a good time.

We got home on a wonderful Sunday evening and the frenzy began, again. It has been a late spring, and the flowers and trees have begun to blossom. It is beautiful, amazing, and a pollen nightmare. Last weekend, I started to write a post and didn’t finish – I didn’t feel great and had nose and chest congestion and when I woke Monday morning, I decided to stay home and be sick. I went to the doctor, got meds he prescribed and he said to lay low, so I did – it’s about the only time I obey his orders. I stayed home and slept the day away. Tuesday came and went and then the rest of the days last week. I suppose, I have been making the days count in other ways – instead of writing I have been focusing on other parts of my life.

Early this week a message landed in my mailbox and I wanted to Pass it On, because it resonated with me. It was the daily quote from Values.com and I read it and thought about it all of the time. It explains where I am today – pushing the envelope – growing, learning, and overwhelmed. Self-inflicted overwhelmed, but overwhelmed.

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So, I find myself with a list longer than it needs to be and a finite amount of time.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day. (Johnny Nash)

Truly, it’s gonna be a great day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, even when sometimes objects are closer than they appear.

What objects are closer than they appear for you?

 

5 thoughts on “Objects are closer than they appear

  1. I love Texas! Have been to both Pappasitos and Goode Company BBQ – both are great! Can’t wait to head down to San Antonio later this year to visit family.

    Yup – Spring has finally arrived and the allergies have begun! My fiancee’ also has them. Weather has been beautiful though. Try to enjoy between the stuffy nose and sneezing!

    1. Phil – thanks for stopping by and reading. Those two restaurants are amazing, though i’m sure there are some restaurants that are better, but those are anchors for me – they were the places my wife and I hung out and I enjoyed when we met – 29 years ago this summer. When I moved away in 1987 they were the places to go and eat good food…… I’ve only been to San Antonio once and it was when I was a kid, I’m certain there some amazing places to eat and take in the Texas cuisine – have a great time.

  2. Aloha Clayton, Sorry about your flooding troubles. Hope you got everything important saved. We just recently put our things, in the garage, up off of the floor. Thanks for posting my postcard from Yosemite…it was GREAT FUN! Hope you can plant those seeds soon.
    Closer than they appear? You know I recently left the job I was at for 13 years. I was looking for something that would make a difference and had asked the Lord if he had something planned for me. I wanted to work for a non-profit that helped children. After my two months of putzing around…I decided to call a friend to see if she knew anybody who needed an accountant. She told me she was no longer with BART, is the Executive Director of a non-profit that helps under privileged children get into high school and college, and needs an accountant. How about that for Closer than they appear?! 🙂
    Hope all is well in your part of the world. Love to all.

    1. I am so glad to hear about your new job, I had been wondering what you’ve been doing. That is such great news. It is ironic how things work, seemingly by cance, but it is not chance at all, we are guided by a greater purpose – making a difference, paying it forward, and making the days count.

      The flood was a minor irritation and it gave an urgency for us to do things we wouldn’t have done without Mother Nature’s push – clean the basement!

      Thanks for stopping by and I have your birthday card already, now I just have to remember to send it!

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