Free Versus Money, or Both?

When my friend was staying with me she had made a comment that stuck with me. I think of it often now and compare it to what I have done when those special dates come up in my life.

A grandchild’s birthday, well I should add, that I am the worst person at remembering grandchildren’s birthdays. I usually remember but too late. I will see it on Facebook, or someone will mention it.

I am lucky to remember my own anymore, but then again, why would I want to remember mine. I will be the big 60 after all. I realize age is but a number, and the phrase,  you are only as old as you feel, but it freaks me out to be quite truthful.

My biggest fear in life is something I can not control, my death. Oh sure, I can eat right, keep that fat in line. I can exercise until I drop, but in the end I am going to go, just like everyone else, but still it haunts me.

I always remember my own kids birthdays. Have never forgot. When you are my kids ages you sort of, well heck, for me, I just plain run out of ideas on what to get them. How can I make them realize how much they mean to me?

My kids would be crazy if they ever thought for one moment that I didn’t love them to death. Even when it is my time to leave this earth, the kids will be the last things I think about. But with birthday’s  and Christmas it has pretty much come down to money for gifts.

One of my kids lives out-of-state. One of them lives very close to me and the last lives about 35 minutes from me. Not too bad I guess considering some parents kids live on the opposite side of the world.

When my girlfriend made the statement, time is the most precious gift you can give of yourself to anyone, that really sunk in. Gosh, it doesn’t cost a penny. It is a way to show them that I care, and I know without a doubt that I would have a wonderful new memory with the children.

We can go from that fact, to looking outside the box. Is there anyone that we are close enough to that they would also appreciate some of our time? What about that shut-in next door. Do you think they would enjoy a fifteen minute visit from us?

How about a phone call, or maybe they would enjoy opening a letter in the mail instead of those nasty bills? I bet if we use our imagination we can think of some wild, and sometimes crazy ways to spruce up a sad face or a lonely heart.

Maybe I will be creative and think of something to add to that money to just put a little extra kick in people’s lives that I care about and love this year too.