Just a short time ago

[coriolis]

I chaperoned a school field trip to Gettysburg Battlefield today. I was thinking about time. This battle occured in 1863. They said that the last civil war veteran died in the 1930's or 40's, I forget which. So that means that my parents, born in the 1920's, potentially could have known a civil war veteran. I was born in 1959, which was 44 years ago. 44 years is 31% of the time that has elapsed since the civil war. When I was born, the civil war had happened less than 100 years prior - one lifetime. My lifetime so far, also covers 19% of the life of this nation - a significant portion. If my parents knew someone who remembered the civil war, that person could have almost known someone who remembered the beginnings of this country. Seeing how much our world has changed in that time is mind boggling. There's even been tremendous changes in the last 44 years. I'm just thinking about our connection to the past. It's not that far off. As the pace of change accelerates, we will witness even more dramatic changes. You don't really notice in your day-to-day world, but if you stop and think about it, you gain some perspective. It also inspires me to think that the things I do should count for something.

[azskyman]

You don't really notice in your day-to-day world, but if you stop and think about it, you gain some perspective. It also inspires me to think that the things I do should count for something.

Ed...truer words were never spoken. And let me remind you, what you do already counts for something. With your sons. With your family as a whole. And with those of us here at storm2k.

There is no time like the present to make our efforts count. Sometimes it can be in the form of making someone laugh. Or consoling someone who is in pain. Or shaking a hand or handing off a smile for no reason at all.

One of our employees lost virtually everything he owned in an apartment fire in north Phoenix last weekend. That was one week ago.

The employees at our plant have helped him get a new bed, a new lounge chair, a VCR, some clothes to wear. And today, we handed him $355 in cash from donations from around the office.

By now those years of yours are beginning to remind you that the important things are those that give to others...with no expectation of something in return.

This fellow, now 37 years old, has to start his life over AGAIN. At age 16, he found his mother bludgeoned to death (by the family minister) when he returned home from school.

The opportunities are endless. But then so are the rewards.

[breeze]

Countries like England have histories that go back for thousands of
years....buildings and forts that are centuries old...then, look at
America...our oldest buildings are practically new, as our history is,
in comparison! Our American ancestors are really not that long gone!
You can definitely feel a connection, when you think about it, and,
yes, Ed - when you think about it, you're still building history for your
kids, grandkids, and, on down the line!

[streetsoldier]

FYI, the last Union veteran passed over the river in 1952; the last Confederate died in 1959. I was alive during this period, so it does, indeed, put things into a much larger and richer perspective.

Or, think of this...if an average generation (over the preceding 2,000 years) is 33 years, this would mean that we are but 34 people's hale and healthy lifetimes away from the time of Christ...34 people. THAT is perspective, is it not?

[azskyman]

That, streetsoldier, is a perspective that is most humbling.

[azsnowman]

WOW! Some GREAT thoughts here gang! I too was born in '59........really makes you stop and wonder don't it???

Now a *little* family history on my fathers side, this is something I'm "NOT" very proud of however, my 2nd great grandfather had slaves working on his farm (it's still in the family and the ancestors from those slaves still live and work on that farm) in East Texas, Trinidad.

Dennis