I have always had an appreciation for the simple things in life. You, know things like the first snowflake of the season, or the smell of freshly mowed grass. This appreciation I suspect stems from being raised by parents who survived the Depression, where the scarcity of some items made them all the more cherished.  Then again it could be my romantic side that despite life’s hard knocks’ attempt to erase it stubbornly continues to hold fast.

Perhaps it is the theft of so many things that we take for granted, like our freedom to move about the way we want, because of a nation that feels less and less secure daily, has taken a toll on simples pleasures like traveling. Where many of us once hopped a plane at the drop of a hat, the uncertainty of the times today now causes us to question the wisdom of venturing too far from home and loved ones.

Not long ago while preparing to go on a trip alone, I spent precious moments making sure that my spouse knew the code to our home safe, to the point of making him repeat the combination several times for good measure. Inside, I showed him where I kept our important documents like our wills, life insurance papers, and extra cash. I pointed out the log of the bills that I paid monthly: the mortgage and Georgia Power in the event that something happened to me while traveling: something that I had never given much thought to in the past. 

That glazed-over look in his eyes dissipated somewhat when I mentioned that the DIRECTV bill was included in this list. And I reminded him that with the extra cash that he could purchase steaks. For believe it or not, Man can not live with ESPN alone. Like so many folks for a few minutes, I felt the irrational urge not to go, but to honker down and cocoon myself inside my house and stay there.

Oh return me back to the days when life was simple: when I had someone else to worry about me as well as watch over me. Times when things like hanging out under the corner street light or catching lightening bugs in a jar, were the norm.  Alas, mother told me that there would be days like this!

For like many children, growing up I never once thought of things like terrorist attacks, global warming or loosing our green space  For us girls, getting ‘cooties’ was the worst disease that I’d heard that I could catch. And I was never really sure what cooties were.

Today as I ponder the second half of my life, I relish time spent with kindred spirits, friends and family. Daily, I pray that I will never be so busy that I fail to appreciate the sun after several days of clouds. Or take for granted the value of a hug when spirits are low. For it is true, that old saying, ‘that those of us who fail to remember the past are often doomed to repeat it’.