The Remembrance Thread

[jetstream1066]

1 month ago, my brother and I lost our dad. Feel free to raise a glass in his honor.......even if he was a Jet fan.

[Beaglebay]

Sincere condolences on your loss.

[mikiemo83]

Sorry for your loss.

[Baron Samedi]

Came close to losing a coupe of people int he last two months, but fortunately, it all worked out well enough. Still, I'd like to mention a little something.

Every year in August, a group of guys and I go to the remotest areas of Maine for a weekend and enjoy the wilderness, the company, the food, and the campfires together. it's an absolute blast and the one weekend we all look forward to every year.

Every night, weather permitting, after dinner we have a campfire and sit around it, have a few drinks, and just chat and laugh the evening away while watching for shooting stars.

I always, always take a moment to pause and appreciate it. I disengage myself from the conversation for a couple of minutes, and look at everyone around the campfire one at a time, trying to burn the memory into my mind, to remember it. I don't say anything, I just do it.

Why?

You just never know who won't be around next year, next campfire gathering.

The next time you are with friends and family, in those moments when there is no TV or distractions, where it's just you and them. Take a moment to take it all in, and appreciate it. Take a moment to create a mental home movie, something to remember them by, something that can make you smile later in life.

Campfires, cookouts, tailgating, or just sitting on the deck or in the backyard and enjoying the day is a good time to just realize how great that moment is and take it in, seer it into your memory.

It helps appreciate what we have, and those we have that make our lives worthwhile. Acknowledge it to yourself. Someday, someone there won't be there any more. It's a good time to appreciate them now, when you are having a good time, doing nothing but being there with them, rather than wait for someone to be gone.

I've got a lot of good memories doing this. I'm not sure if they would have stuck in my mind or not, but I don't think it hurts to actively focus on remembering a moment from time to time, when you have them.