If only I am so lucky...

So, my 80 something parents were coming to my area today to run a couple of errands. They don't come my way too often, so I invited them to lunch. My mother informed me that they had a full agenda for the day, and did not have time to have lunch today. What a hoot! I laughed to my husband that I thought it was hysterical that my "elderly" parents didn't have time to stop for lunch! Now, if you were to meet my parents, you would never guess that they're in their 80's. They look great, and despite some of the usual health issues one faces with age, they get around great, still live on their own, drive, keep a full schedule of activities, including babysitting my young children etc. They are pretty damned impressive. I always tease my mom when she complains of being too busy that many people her age are drooling on themselves somewhere with no clue who or where they are, so she should be glad that she's so busy, and still capable of doing so much. She replies with the inquiry "Isn't there any happy medium? It's either running around like crazy or drooling on myself?!" To which I respond "Yes. Those are your choices, so be happy your busy!" In truth, there are many stages in between. We all know people who are old beyond their years- those who seem "old and crotchety" way before their time. We also all know people who are "young at heart" and seem not to act anywhere near their age. I am happy to say my parents fall into the latter category. It's ironic, actually, because my parents had me later in life, so growing up, my friends parents were all quite a bit younger than mine, and I remember thinking that it wasn't fair, because they would have a lot more time with their parents than I would with mine. The reality is that some of those "young" parents have been gone for years now, due to cancer, car accidents, or other accidents or illnesses, and my parents are both still here with me, thank God. It just goes to show that one never knows. None of us know how long we have to enjoy earthly pleasures with our family and friends, so we must make the most of all of the opportunities that come our way. And I don't mean just fabulous opportunities for world travel, fame and fortune, but every day opportunities like watching a beautiful sunset with your spouse or cheering your child on as they accomplish a goal or having dinner with a good friend or collecting leaves on a gorgeous fall day or eating a bowl of your favorite ice cream or having lunch with your busy parents...it doesn't have to be unusual or expensive or important to anyone else, it just needs to be a moment noticed by you, where you take a deep breath and live in the moment and thank God for your blessings. I hope, that if I get to live as long as my parents have, that I can be young at heart like they are, sucking every bit of life out of this world like they do, and telling MY children that I am just too busy, we will have to do lunch another day!