posted on May 24, 2005 01:28:14 PM
Received this in a email from a cousin of mine this morning:
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The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.
I love the quiet solitude of being first to rise, the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. The first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life hands you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.
I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice.
He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom." I was intrigued and sat down to listen.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work 60-70 hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."
And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about 75 years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about 75 years."
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."
"It took me until I was 55 to think this through in detail, and by then, I had already used over 2,800 Saturdays. I figured that if I lived to be 75, I had about a thousand Saturdays left to enjoy."
"So I went out and bought 1,000 marbles and put them in a large, clear plastic container here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since, I take one marble out and throw it away."
"By watching my marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time on earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"One last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast.
This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones......
"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop when he finished.
I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."
"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special," I said.
"It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. "Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out?" I said, "I need to buy some marbles."
MAY ALL SATURDAYS BE SPECIAL AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY HAPPY YEARS AFTER YOU LOSE ALL YOUR MARBLES.
Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on May 24, 2005 01:39:55 PM
Great Story. Life is precious and when you are still able to spend it with your loved ones it even makes it more special.
I hope you Bear live to remove all your marbles and then start putting them back until you hit 100.
posted on May 24, 2005 02:28:19 PM
"By watching my marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time on earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
How completely morbid. The old man probably didn't make it to the next week because he now felt his time was up. No one should be so fixated on death. Nothing could be better for your self-esteem and health than starting your own "deathwatch" when you're only 50.
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on May 24, 2005 03:07:30 PM
I enjoyed your story, bear. And it's true...as we age...we become much more aware of what's truly important to us....to most that is our families/loved ones/friends. As they say...few people on their death beds wish they'd spent more time working.
And I have a friend who told me his, very similar, story to the one you've posted. Only he used gold coins that he/we spend on the important things in our lives. And because there are so few....being aware each time one is spent...that there are fewer left.
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Four More Years....YES!!!
