It took me back to summer

Every once in a while, I go back through my old blog posts and reread some of the things that I've written.  Kind of weird, there are some that I've forgotten about writing.  So when I sit down to read them once more, it's as if it only happened just yesterday. 


Last evening late, when I was unable to sleep much, I got up and started to read some from last summer, before the accident in August even thought of happening.  There was one in particular that made me pause and think, and I thought I might repost it here tonight.  So, if you've already read it...well, I guess it's just like a "rerun" on TV.  If you haven't read it, well I think I'd like you to see it tonight.  It was one that meant a lot to me as I wrote it...


From my blog post of Saturday, July 16th, 2011    
"Lesson Learned"


As far as I'm concerned, the "Miller Bucket List" taught me a very valuable lesson today about life and its brevity.  Item #5, "to see the most beautiful sunrise and sunset in the world" is now COMPLETE.  Take a look at the most beautiful sunset in the world over my hometown of Haven, Kansas.

Someone asked me one time, how would I know that I had ACTUALLY seen the most beautiful ones.  My reply to them was, "I'll just know."  Well, today, July 16th, 2011, I saw them and they were every bit as beautiful as I imagined them to be.


The saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", pertains to most anything, sunrises and sunsets included.  You might look at my two photos and say, "Nah, those aren't the best.  The best ones can be seen at ____________(fill in the blank with your own special spot of the world.)  But for Peggy Miller, these two will long be remembered by me as the most special ones I have ever seen.


Hey, here's where that "valuable lesson" part comes in.  I cannot remember one day in my 55 plus years of living that I have paid attention to and actually waited for the sun to come up and then set down again in the evening.  But today I did and the time spent between 6:20 a.m. and 8:50 p.m. this day went by so quickly.


I went to swimming lessons, complained about how hot it was, spent time with a special friend, continued to complain about how hot it was, did laundry, cleaned house, and made a trip to Haven....and dozens of other little things.  And the world kept turning and life just went on.  I had to wonder as I was driving over to Haven tonight, did I spend this day doing what I should have been doing?  My answer came back "yes".  If the truth were known, I don't think I could always say that.


As I was leaving Haven, I didn't realize how fast the sun would sink in the west.  I had to hurry to get any kind of shot before it was too late and man, isn't that how life is?  That's why I'm so frantically trying and diligently working on this whole list of things to do before I die.  I don't want to miss out on my chance.  And friends, I don't want you to miss out either.


So what was the lesson learned?  The answer is this--For the first time that I can remember, I didn't take everything for granted that came my way today.  I recognized it as the "gift" that it is.  All of us are given just "so" many minutes between the sun's arrival and its departure each day.   It's a reminder to live my life accordingly.


With a very thankful heart, I say that today, July 16, 2011, was a "great day to be alive."  I hope you had such a day as I did.  Have a good night's sleep Facebook friends and family.  Be ready for the next great day...it's coming up before you even know it!


My dear friends, tonight is no different.  February 17, 2012 has come and gone quickly today. Night has befallen us and my eyelids are getting pretty heavy, even IF it's only 8 p.m. :)  Did I live my life today in the way that it should have been lived?  I can only hope so.  Will there be a tomorrow for me to have yet one MORE do over?  That remains to be seen...but truly, I can only hope so.  


Wishing for you all much peace and joy in your lives and so very thankful that I might call you my "friend."  Take care of yourselves and one another.  Good Night!

The "partner" to the "most beautiful sunset in the world."......it was the "most beautiful sunrise in the world", as seen that morning from a view point along Eales' Road just south of Hutchinson.  As long as I live, I shall always remember it.