Oh what a beautiful morning

             I awoke this morning and remembered that it was Zee’s and my 64th wedding anniversary. What came and went in a matter of a minute or so was the idea that Zee and I would go to dinner in Paso Robles and then take in a movie. But our daughter Lilly called to say that she was fixing dinner tonight for our anniversary and all of our family, which if the total were to show up there would be about 20. But our granddaughter Sage is training horses at a training stable in Salinas CA, grandson Zack has just graduated from Tarleton college in Texas and already has his own business as a fence builder, and granddaughter Kathryn, who has just graduated from Cal Poly, is spending the summer Pro Rodeing with her boyfriend in Colorado. Anyway, it gave me pause to stop and reflect on how satisfying my working life has been, now add in time, which by the way is the best thing that you can spend on a child for which Zee gets Lion’s share of the credit. Then mix in a portion of luck and you have my family, which I don’t know what life would be like without them. But whatever it is, that would fill this portion of my life, I’m sure it would be a very poor second. 

             I know that talking about family can be rather boring, but it gives me a reason to raise an issue that has bothered me for some time. It’s to hear young people in their childbearing years saying that there not going to have children as the world today is too full of strife, sexual issues, and turmoil it’s too dangerous to raise a child. 

             A woman’s childbearing years will end sometime in her 40s. Never say never can apply here as technology is constantly changing the playing field so that childbearing years might be extended, but what doesn’t change is the youthful energy needed to raise kids that require lots of love, time, and direction and then in only a moment as brain and personality blossom he or she is waving goodbye. Wherever they may wander to and then settle, their family roots will keep alive a relationship that is tied together with love and history. So to all you reluctant members of the childbearing years remember that love makes a new family's journey no matter how trying at times worth it all. So when the time arrives to celebrate your senior years, you can say I’ve made the right choice. I know I made the right choice because my family made it all possible. 

                         See Ya,

                           Jack