ForeverMissed
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August 8, 2017

You'll have to bear with me as my memory is a little fuzzy on this but, as I recall, one of my first interactions with Mr. Hightower was back in high school shortly after my brother got his eyebrow pierced.  My brother, Brandon, and I were talking in the driveway before heading out for whatever mischief we had planned when Mr. Hightower emerged from the garage and observed my brother's new piercing.  He then offered with in a convincing, deadpan voice:  "Doesn't that hurt?", pointing at my brother's eyebrow.  "Did you crash or something?  It looks like you have some sort of wire stuck in your eyebrow."  Then, as he walked back to the garage,  "Hold on -  let me get something to take it out for you."  He reappeared moments later with a very large pair of pliers and took a few ominous steps towards my brother before breaking out into a jovial laugh...  I don't know about my brother, but he had me hook, line, and sinker.

The Dash

August 6, 2017

Dan's mother had a favorite poem, The Dash, that was referenced often in the family. 

The Dash
by Linda Ellis copyright 1996

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know 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, 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?

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