I know we should strive to learn something new as often as possible, but I never dreamt I'd be learning such a HUGE lesson on time management at 48 years of age.
In late October of 2012, my mother-in-law had surgery to repair a hernia operation from 18 years before; tests at this time showed a quarter-sized spot on her pancreas. As a present, my wife and I had been given a trip to a resort in Florida the week before Christmas, 15-22 December. The ability to take this trip came in doubt on December 11 when further tests gave my mother-in-law 3-4 months to live, whether she did chemo and radiation treatments or not. It was decided (actually, my mother-in-law insisted) that we would take the trip and use it as an opportunity to recharge our batteries for the struggle that was to come. As we approached the Kentucky-Tennessee border on the morning of 15 December, my wife's cell phone rang. It was her brother calling to inform us that further test indicated we had1-2 weeks, not the previously discussed time frame. Needless to say, we turned around at the next exit and returned to Louisville. We struggled through Christmas, and on 27 December, exactly 9 years and 6 months after her husband passed (also of pancreatic cancer) we lost that truly wonderful lady.
It is with this in mind that I urge everyone to take advantage of the gifts, talents, and opportunities that we find in our lives. Appreciate the little things that can truly impact us more than we can ever imagine. Time is fleeting, and the opportunity to gain education is a gift that we MUST appreciate and use to the fullest potential we possibly can.
Good luck to all in the remaining weeks of this quarter. Semper Fidelis and Semper Paratus.
Whitney T. Nall
No comments:
Post a Comment