Don't Blink

In light of the tragedies that have touched down and landed in the lives of many, my thoughts continue to stay in the vein of how things can change in the blink of an eye. Which brings me to a post I am reposting today.

"Don't Blink" - a song my son brought to my attention, with these words:

“I write this to the tune of Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t  Blink”. A tune that starts out with an interview with an old man, who’s turned 102 years old, expressing the importance to essentially stop and smell the flowers. He starts off by saying he remembers when he was young and him and his buddy laid and watched the stars and moon, and how good of a time of life that was. And how today, even at 102, life is whizzing by as fast as a bullet.”

“Time? An unstoppable force of life out of my control, and the old man’s words ring far too true, that it used to creep by as slow as a snail. But now, even at the ripe age of 22 years, it’s going by far too fast, and this is what scares me. I have too much I want to accomplish ‘right now’ … I find in the warming afternoon sun at The Farm, I wish I could keep on working at my leisure and just suspend time.”

“It seems unfair that It’s just ingrained that at a time where we feel so invincible; at a time where we really don’t appreciate our lives and surroundings, where life sits in a list (*sic), like a windless evening at the lake. Today more of a feeling of a turbulent hurricane comes to mind when I think about time.”

“The Farm, although my greatest burden in my current life – is my daily vacation.”

On May 15, 2010 I wrote:

I heard this song for the first time yesterday. I love how music can stir my emotions.

For me, it is usually the beat of the music that catches my attention first. The words come some time after that. I don't listen to country music unless someone else brings my attention to a song. But it is the lyrics of country music that bring the music to a new level.

The interview at the beginning of this video heightened my appreciation for the lyrics that were to follow.

The wisdom gained from a man who is 102 years old. And the fact that a talented songwriter put all of that together in a package so that people of every age could hear the words of someone who has a lifetime of experience to share. It touches a chord deep inside of me when the talent of a stranger reaches out and makes an impact in my life.

I loved the old man's words at the end of his interview as he tells new generation about life: "To give love and respect ... not all day, every day ... but at least once a week, to your mother and father. Especially your mother."

Instantly, I could relate.

The letter that I write to my mom every week. "At least once a week" ... I've been writing on a weekly basis for years. It's my time to sit down and connect. To take the time to show my mom she's in my thoughts. Time to give love and respect.

My own family's recent Sunday Supper habit. It's new. But it feels like a time when my adult sons join me in my life. It's small stuff. But it's a time where they show their love and respect.

One on one time with each of My Boys. It's a special time. Each of the individual in their thoughts, their challenges and their joys. I love when I feel like I've spent time enjoying each of my children, without other distractions. It's a time where I can show my love and respect.

My aunt was telling my mom about an anecdote that she read about today's generation and music. Mom and her sister come from a generation of music where the lyrics tell a story. They enjoy testing and refreshing their memories by recalling the verses of music that was a part of their life. The stories within the songs are meaningful and poignant. The author of this article my aunt quipped, "When the kids of today's generation are in their 'golden years', what are they going to recall about the lyrics of the music they play today? 'Oh baby, baby' ... ?"

It was my 22 year old son that brought this song to my attention. Along with some words that he wrote about how this song heightened his awareness of time.

I sent my mom a copy of this song yesterday with a little yellow sticky note that said "Tell (my aunt) that 'this' is what (some of) the younger generation is listening to ...".

Music that withstands the test of time. You know you've heard something special when it touches something deep within. Words that you can appreciate now ... as well as 70 years from now.