Many Moons Has Passed

As I sit here on a cold January night, many moons from my last post, I can't help but ponder how things has changed since then. I am living in Utah, a far stretch from the island I once lived. I now have been a father for two years, a husband for eight, and a professional music educator for three. My friends have been scattered to the winds of life and change. Some close some far. I have discovered much more about who I am and who I am still growing into. The path of life takes many turns but to find a person as wonderful, loving, and sweet as my wife is truly a once in a lifetime occurrence and I cannot thank her enough for her love and care she has for me and our child.

I just finished a visit from a friend who traveled an ocean for other family events, but took an opportunity out of his busy schedule to talk story with me. His departure has left me feeling a nostalgic sadness. The thoughts I am left thinking really reminds me how each day we are alive is truly one short day. The thought of the night is my home is not the same. My mother has retired from 30 years of teaching and will no longer be a part of the school I have known for so long. That chapter in her life is over and in turn has closed one in mine. That place which played a large part in my growing up is now a strange place to me and I don't know how to feel about it. 

My friends who have moved from the houses we all once lived are now reaching for the stars in many distant places. Opportunities that were once not available are now becoming realities by moving away from their homes. The locations where we all hung out and played are becoming memories, places where we will meet are now only places we "did meet." Places once familiar are becoming foreign.

Tonight my heart yearns for a time past, but breaks knowing that things have changed far enough that to go back would confirm my greatest sadness. It is not home, at least not the one I knew. I will always call those physical locations my home in some way shape and form. It will always be the home of my childhood, the place of many warm memories, many growing pains, many life lessons and experiences. The strength of those memories will carry me into the future and be a beacon and power to lift me when I am dark and low.

Why do I write this? I don't know. What I think is that I needed return to this blog to write and express these feelings. I wanted to get my thoughts and feelings out of the fluid world that is in my head and into the real world somehow. The fleeting thoughts that flow through the brain are gone quickly and these are thoughts I did not want to leave to the void of lost ideas.

As I bid farewell to those memories and place them into the long-term storage of my mind for safekeeping, I will remember to keep those memories and feelings close when I am in need. I will remember those people who have blessed me with their friendship, kindness, and love and remember to express my thanks when I am given the chance.

Let us always be grateful. 

Let us always remember the good. 

Let us always be kind. 

Let us always love each other.  

- Shaun