SNOW TRIP

Gilly's first trip to the snow. Another milestone and memory. Record snowfall. A friend's cabin there has snow packed above his 15 foot high deck. Can't see out of some of his second floor windows because of the snow pack blocking the view. Only the third floor has all the windows clear. Yikes.

Of course the snow and cold didn't faze G. She just wanted to keep on playing, throwing snowballs, building snow castles, making snow angels, catching snow flakes on her tongue. We might as well have been at the beach playing in the sand as far as she was concerned.

You know when Gilly goes off to college/Stanford in 13 years, it means I only have 13 more Winters to play in the snow with her as a child. Think about that for a moment. Just 13. Next year that number goes down to just 12. Then only 11.

And I only have 13 more Springs to fly a kite with her, throw rocks into the ocean, eat ice cream at the downtown cafe, ride our bikes in the park, hold hands dropping her off at school. I know that may sound weird, but I think that way most of the time. It keeps me focused on what's most important, where and how to use my most precious resources in life-my time and energy. You know-do what you love with the people you love. Life is short. Life is precious. No regrets. Live and love in real time. They grow so fast.

Maybe worn 'cliches.'

But not to me.

OON, Happy Spring Break. I hope everyone gets lots of sunshine and has a chance to get outside and breathe in life. Get re-energized and refreshed. And stay safe.

And Happy Easter. I overhead Gilly singing softly, "at the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the light, and the 'birds' of my heart rolled away." It's an old hymn I used to sing as a child. It's the first time I heard her sing it, she must have learned it at school. I listened quietly. She then asked me to sing the last part for her. A precious moment not soon forgotten.

He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed.

(pic: Soda Springs Snow Park outside of Tahoe)