This is important.....

 It's not really... That ("This is important") seems to be a lifetime moniker, and the answer(s) to what is, what isn't important has so many extremes over the years.

I remember loving Little League so much, it was my everything. What I didn't know at the time, there was probably a couple a block or so away that would say "The damn bugs from the bright lights will be out tonight, the little rotten bastas got another game."

I remember the rages of surfer shirts, chucka boots, fruit loops, no fruit loops, don't wear green and yellow on Thursday, the duck tail, the pony tail, big hair, crewcuts, Brillcream - a little dab'll doya.

Now, I hardly look in the mirror, and to splurge on a new outfit now is a handy $10 bill at my favorite thrift store.

The important point, pun probably intended, is how "what is important" changes so vastly over the years.

Friends were certainly important way back in the day, and ARE throughout - but, additions happen.  Could be moving on in high school to a different sport, joining band, choir, yada, then - venturing down another similar road making newer friends - while hanging on the the old ones too.

Jobs are important (then one retires.)  Kidding, kinda. You think "this group of coworkers will be around forever and a day, that's important" - then, whoosh, opportunity means moving to another city, bankruptcy happens, doors close, American buying habits change (as does what's important to them), there be no more Blockbusters, Western Autos, Sears, Southwestern Bell, TWA, Sprint, yada.

The nights of worry in the bedroom where one's spouse probably thinks your insomnia was caused by "is something wrong with us", when it was actually maybe a yucky coworker, or a micromanaging boss, or, an impossible task/assignment that was thrown at you and you worry how you are going to do that, coach little league, keep the damn yard mowed, and pay the annual city/county taxes all in one.

Now, Uncle Sam's check comes like clockwork.  It ain't much, but adaptation happens. Some things that usedta be important we toss, simply due to cost - and that's ok. Rear view mirror important.

Illness, affliction certainly changes perspective, importance (or not) of things, events. I have a relative I admire like crazy, over two years in to fighting cancer... "Victor, I'm glad cancer picked me... it's made me a better person, it's put me closer to God."  Wow to the wow.

In a world - maybe a "past world" where 'men aren't supposed to show emotion'.... it's different now.  My own father, a man of the Depression, World War II, 'don't show emotion', never really overly did.  You could see in his eyes, his demeanor, his quietness when he did/would emote, but it took Parkinsons to bring on the first ever tear I saw from his eyes.  "What's important" was in there the entire time - it simply took something as ugly as Parkinsons for it to come to front.

It's as if life is a whittling process, and as we age we are more able to hone in on what REALLY is important. The handshake (or the pandemic fist bump), the hug, the word love.. the "you've been such a great friend over the years.".. The "I've never told you this, but I've long admired how you....."(do this, do that)

Hell to the yeah the 2016, 2020 and eventually the 2024 election were/are important.  Getting this pandemic in the rear view mirror is of importance. Praying Mike Matheny finds a way to end this damn ten game losing streak, that Pat Mahomes will one day "GOAT" over the aging Tom Brady...that's all important.

But.  It really ain't.  Living and loving along the way is really important. Facetime with a grandkid is more important than the Super Bowl, or, watching "two hit Whit."

A golf game, with those of similar wrinkle, is important. It's an example (for me at least) of being, living, loving - be damned the final score.

Oh sure, I very much miss being in a relationship. I'm really ok, and one day I really do plan on getting a kitty cat!.. But if by chance you're sitting in the living room reading this, and you've a mate nearby, it's my hope that importance grabs you and that it's not taken for granted.  As we've aged, in the past it seems many of us jumped out of a relationship on something as simple as an itch.  Thankfully, the older we get the more that attitude seems to change.  Nowadays, if there is an itch, we get to the root of 'why' rather than running to the post office for a change of addy card.

That tail wags?  Pet it, it's important. Belly empty?  Take him/her/them out for Chinese, or Mexican, or BBQ - or, order two pizzas and tip the snotnose very well.

See that couple once again out attending their beautiful yard?  Pull over, roll the window down, tell 'em how much you enjoy driving past their yard.

Share a porch, or a porch swing, or a text, an instant message, a quick visit, bring a bottle of wine, a six pack.. dinner.. a cake..  donuts.. little is huge as we age. 

Don't forget yourself.  You're important.  We forget that, and it's sad. I can think of a thousand or twelve folks of importance to me.  Devastation comes to mind were I to wakeup one day and not have this friend, that friend, this relative...etc. I am sure the same for you, so don't go down the damn path of thinking you aren't important.  YOU ARE.

Live and love.... it's important.

By Henry Hallmark Gibson

Love, Victurd