One day this week he was still singing walking up the hall, towel around his waist, and I stopped and listened ...
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year....
In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights,
in cups of coffee, In inches, in miles
in laughter in strife,
I have been thinking about that song all week. My birthday was this weekend and the step toward measuring a year in my life was an easy one to take. All last year I was full of angst over the many things that were wrong in my life and at the same time trying to enjoy the incredible joys that were taking place. I was all over the place emotionally and trying so hard to nail it all down and not let anyone see me sweat . Everything was out of balance and I couldn't stand it. Nothing seemed to be under my control and I felt helpless and insignificant. I lost so much, had so many things taken from me that I was filled with so much anger and bewilderment some days and deep and abiding joy the next. I've never felt more unlike myself. I have never been more thrown off and ungrounded in my entire life.
I realize now that in my own self absorption I neglected to see the compete picture, I failed to see what it was that made what I went through bearable. I failed to see what carried me along and kept me in check some days. I failed to see what I have and have had all along, deep in lockstep with me, as I traveled the road that is my life. I failed to see those incredibly special parts of my life who, both near and far, walked the road by my side.
So on this birthday, how do I measure a year, measure my year? In people. In friendship, in kindness, in care, in encouragement. In tenderness, in whispers, in touches and in love. I can measure my year in this life in the things given to me, in the things done for me and in the things I carry with me now. The gifts I was given by sweet and dear friends, picked me up and carried me on days that I stumbled. They calmed me, made be feel stronger and amazingly sometimes even made me laugh at myself for having to admit I was faltering at all.
I just may start singing in the shower myself'....
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year....
Its time now to sing out though the story never ends
lets celebrate remember a year in the life of friends...
Indeed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ-4ikcohCs
