CARPE  MOMENTO

My husband and I did one more walk-through to make sure we were not leaving anything in this little apartment  that had been ours for a week.   Our vacation was coming to a close in this beautiful state that once had been home to both of us.  We make our yearly trek back to Michigan to keep places alive that have played such a role in both our lives.  We closed the door to  114, with a little sadness in our hearts, as this trip came to a close. We were  leaving a place we loved, with more than a  thousand miles or more to travel to the place we call home.

Our marriage was something neither of us would have predicted when we both lived  in Michigan many years ago.  It has been eleven years now since  we blew everyone's minds, as well as our own and said, "I do".  We all have heard stories of friends falling in love after many years of separation. That had happened to us with the passing of both our spouses.  This state holds many memories of good times and we feel compelled to celebrate it  once again each year.

Rain was predicted for Grand Rapids for the next three days. The skies were beginning to fulfill the forecast. We ate breakfast, got extra cups of coffee to go and headed south, as small droplets pelted the windshield.   Richard prefers to drive, so only upon request  do I slide into the driver's seat for a couple hundred miles or so.   I laid my head back and started reminiscing of the past few days. 

While in Grand Rapids, we traveled 100 miles north  to Cadillac where my deceased husband and I lived for three years. There we met Richard and his wife. We were two happy couples, raising our children, having coffee clutches, going shopping, and attending church. Life was good. 

On this trip we stopped in at some of our favorite places; Shay Coffee Station, The Book Nook and of course Mancinno's, our favorite Italian eatery.

I recently came across the phrase carpe momento, Latin for 'seize the moment'. I look back now and though life was good, I  wonder if we lived life to the fullness back then.  My husband had work problems.  Though I loved new friends we had met, I missed family. Did we seize the moment to the full degree?  My oldest son, Russ,  started to school  in this pretty northern  town. He loved the lake across the street from our rented cabin. He loved for us to spend Saturdays goofing off.

On this particular trip Richard and I  sat by the beach awhile to enjoy the sites and sounds.  I saw a father there on the beach with  a young son that reminded me of Russ. I took a chance on this stranger  accepting  words I wanted to say to him and maybe understanding that I was just reminiscing of times gone by. I told him of how much his son reminded me of when I had a little boy that age. I warned him that time would move swiftly and ask him to enjoy those times. I chose not to tell him that four years ago I lost my son that  played at this lake on days such as this.  I hope he would heed my words and really stay in the moment with his family.  I hoped that he would keep his cell phone tucked away and really join in with his son's laughter and antics. Bitter-sweet memories, that's  what I felt as I stood there.

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