Don’t Miss Your Life
Max built this clever vidcam, and I just had to snap a pic. I want my kids to see my face, and not just my eyes behind the camera...
Last night while driving home from the lake by myself after dark, I heard Phil Vassar’s new song. “Don’t Miss Your Life.” Best thing about the song? I could hear every word on the first listen. This is rare for me. I have marked hearing loss in my left ear. If I turn to my right to hit my snooze button in the morning, which I often do, my right ear is left pressed against the pillow and my left ear essentially sleeps on the job and can tolerate that beeping alarm way longer than it should.
Anyway, back to Phil. New song… The second best thing about the song is its lyrics. A man flying west, cramming to finish a project, gets a wake-up call from an older man who also put his career before his family as a young dad. And the young guy gets it. He books a “turn-around ticket” when the plane lands to make it back in time for his daughter’s eighth birthday party.
It’s another good reminder for all of us. I’m not climbing the ladder too high, not traveling the country, staying in swanky hotels and missing birthday parties or homeruns. But I am preoccupied. I am, like Max mimics in the photo above, the one behind the camera. I’m the housekeeper, the cook and the driver, as we remember from last week’s post. While I’m here, I’m still in danger of missing my life. The details often escape the dads, and they can pull us moms down the path of oblivion.
When I got home to Dave last night, I showed him the shoes I bought Lily for First Communion and also the totally awesome kicks (gray, blue and green Nike Torch4s) I found for her for just $22 on clearance. These shoes are sweet. I told Dave I found them in my size for $59.99 and just couldn’t bring myself to spend that much, even though I wanted them. He proceeded to tell me I should have bought them, that we don’t get many chances to wear such awesome matching shoes with our kids. And, of course, he’s right. I told him Phil Vassar said so too.
So tomorrow is a big event. Miss Lilith will wear white from head to toe and experience her First Communion. And my cameras are charged. But, more than that, my mind is clear, my eyes are open. I’ll watch that beautiful, tall girl join her friends for a special event; listen to my firstborn, my sweet baby, read the Prayer of the Faithful; and feel the love from our extended family at her party after church in real time.
I’ll be sure to capture some snaps, but I won’t obsess over the pictures or the video or the perfection of her outfit. No, I won’t miss my life. I’ll be there. I’ll remember what they say: These are the best days of my life. I’m gonna miss this. And babies don’t keep.
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I would say “enjoy the day”, but I know that’s a given. More people need to realize they don’t want to miss their lives. People overschedule their lives and their kids lives sometimes. While they don’t exactly “miss” their lives by doing this, they certainly make things a little tougher to enjoy. So, enjoy the day, and take time to smell the roses. Nice blog!
Can’t wait to see her! The kids are excited, too! <3
Great blog, as usual. Good point to ponder. We all need to enjoy those wonderful moments in life, big and small, and really take it in. Life’s too fast, that’s for sure.
Beautiful post and such a good reminder for all of us. I definitely need to sit back and enjoy the moment a little more and not miss what is going on RIGHT now. Thanks for this!
bonnie
bonnielouisa.blogspot.com
P.S. Do you have a way I can follow you?