All the Heaven We Got
On Christmas Day try and think of the ten thousand wonderful things in your life that allow you that glimpse into the eternal bliss that we are all seeking.
In my eyes this is all the heaven we got:
The exact moment when you arrive home and the dog jumps to greet you. There's a little bit of heaven in that undeniable jubilation that controls every muscle in that dog's body.
Hold onto that sunset or sunrise that sort of makes you go, 'Ahhh,'in awe of what you're seeing. I head East on a regular basis. A lot of time before the sun rises. Not many things more sure than the sunrise and if you happen to pay attention, it's awesome.
The touch of someone you love, and it is more than just a sexual thing. Just a rub of the neck, or a pat on the arm. When it seems like you've been swimming upstream all day, it feels good to have a bit of human touch.
Speaking of human touch...a song on the radio that catches you by surprise. Maybe something that you haven't heard for awhile, but you still remember all the words. Capture that moment when you sing like you're actually the singer, and your performance can win you the Grammy.
Think of the smell of the garlic and onions simmering in the pan on a Sunday morning when the bed was warm, Mom and Dad were watching over you, and all you had to do was rise, and be with the family. If that isn't enough, remember that the sauce was always drinkable.
Think of how you feel when an old friend reaches out, and you laugh hard at the glory days as you remember yourself as the 18-year-old that was going to turn the world on its ear. Pretend for a moment that its all stretched out before you again, and then remember that most of what you were wishing for then most likely happened at least a little.
Think of the kindness of a stranger. Maybe someone once let you out in traffic, or held the door for you so you could step through. Perhaps it was a short conversation about the weather or the news of the day that made you smile. And while you'll never see that person again, you feel better for having seen them once.
Think of how you feel the moment when it snows for the first time of the season. Even here in Buffalo that's a different kind of day. It's a day when you think, 'that's cool.' Six months later, when it's still snowing...not so much.
But the weather provides us so much comfort and beauty. Think of the stars filling the sky on a summer night, or the sun breaking through the clouds on what had been a completely gray day, or a cool breeze breaking through the humidity, or a cool rain taking away the stifling heat.
Think of your son coming by and telling you that he's dominating college, or your
4'8" son talking of ruling the NBA. Think of your boy seeing you sitting there and asking, 'What's up, Champ?'
Imagine them ten years down the line, out in the world, living life, enjoying their days, and building on what you built upon that was handed to you.
Think of sharing an old-time story with your Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa and trying to imagine them as a child.
Doesn't it all seem to be in black-and-white?
Listen to the story and bring color into their memory with them. Not everything was better in the good old days, but not everything was worse either.
There is a treasure chest of memories there.
Think of the electric blanket and that moment when you first slip under the covers when you're tired from a long day, or that split-second when the warm water grabs you as you get into the hot tub. Finding the right parking spot. Taking pepperoni wrapped in cheese off the hot pizza, looking at the girls in their summer clothes.
There is so much heaven out there. We are actually living in shangri-la.
A long putt making it to the bottom of the hole. The laughter of a child. Writing the perfect sentence. Reading a wonderful book. Hearing someone say 'I love you', Thunder Road, catching a ball game.
As I reflected back on the year this morning I thought of my knee surgery. My dragging my leg and then the 2nd surgery and dragging my leg through to the end of the year.
And I must admit it was easy to think that it was a lost year, emotionally and spiritually.
But then I thought of all of those things.
And I thought of the benefit that Jeff's friends threw for him, and the love and the beautiful collection of people that gathered.
And it hit me.
There's a lot of heaven right here.
Our Shangri-la.
Merry Christmas to all!
In my eyes this is all the heaven we got:
The exact moment when you arrive home and the dog jumps to greet you. There's a little bit of heaven in that undeniable jubilation that controls every muscle in that dog's body.
Hold onto that sunset or sunrise that sort of makes you go, 'Ahhh,'in awe of what you're seeing. I head East on a regular basis. A lot of time before the sun rises. Not many things more sure than the sunrise and if you happen to pay attention, it's awesome.
The touch of someone you love, and it is more than just a sexual thing. Just a rub of the neck, or a pat on the arm. When it seems like you've been swimming upstream all day, it feels good to have a bit of human touch.
Speaking of human touch...a song on the radio that catches you by surprise. Maybe something that you haven't heard for awhile, but you still remember all the words. Capture that moment when you sing like you're actually the singer, and your performance can win you the Grammy.
Think of the smell of the garlic and onions simmering in the pan on a Sunday morning when the bed was warm, Mom and Dad were watching over you, and all you had to do was rise, and be with the family. If that isn't enough, remember that the sauce was always drinkable.
Think of how you feel when an old friend reaches out, and you laugh hard at the glory days as you remember yourself as the 18-year-old that was going to turn the world on its ear. Pretend for a moment that its all stretched out before you again, and then remember that most of what you were wishing for then most likely happened at least a little.
Think of the kindness of a stranger. Maybe someone once let you out in traffic, or held the door for you so you could step through. Perhaps it was a short conversation about the weather or the news of the day that made you smile. And while you'll never see that person again, you feel better for having seen them once.
Think of how you feel the moment when it snows for the first time of the season. Even here in Buffalo that's a different kind of day. It's a day when you think, 'that's cool.' Six months later, when it's still snowing...not so much.
But the weather provides us so much comfort and beauty. Think of the stars filling the sky on a summer night, or the sun breaking through the clouds on what had been a completely gray day, or a cool breeze breaking through the humidity, or a cool rain taking away the stifling heat.
Think of your son coming by and telling you that he's dominating college, or your
4'8" son talking of ruling the NBA. Think of your boy seeing you sitting there and asking, 'What's up, Champ?'
Imagine them ten years down the line, out in the world, living life, enjoying their days, and building on what you built upon that was handed to you.
Think of sharing an old-time story with your Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa and trying to imagine them as a child.
Doesn't it all seem to be in black-and-white?
Listen to the story and bring color into their memory with them. Not everything was better in the good old days, but not everything was worse either.
There is a treasure chest of memories there.
Think of the electric blanket and that moment when you first slip under the covers when you're tired from a long day, or that split-second when the warm water grabs you as you get into the hot tub. Finding the right parking spot. Taking pepperoni wrapped in cheese off the hot pizza, looking at the girls in their summer clothes.
There is so much heaven out there. We are actually living in shangri-la.
A long putt making it to the bottom of the hole. The laughter of a child. Writing the perfect sentence. Reading a wonderful book. Hearing someone say 'I love you', Thunder Road, catching a ball game.
As I reflected back on the year this morning I thought of my knee surgery. My dragging my leg and then the 2nd surgery and dragging my leg through to the end of the year.
And I must admit it was easy to think that it was a lost year, emotionally and spiritually.
But then I thought of all of those things.
And I thought of the benefit that Jeff's friends threw for him, and the love and the beautiful collection of people that gathered.
And it hit me.
There's a lot of heaven right here.
Our Shangri-la.
Merry Christmas to all!
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