As I sit here in my office with Lucy, the larger than life labrador, snoring on the floor, I realize how incredibly fortunate I am. One day after my 62nd birthday, I feel pretty darn young for an old guy. I am blessed with an amazing family--great wife, great daughter, super son-in-law, 86 year old parents who think they're 46, a brother who is also a great friend, and 3 terrific sisters, who live nearby. I am blessed with the desire to be creative--to write, and think and share my thoughts with whoever will listen. I am blessed with good health, which 2 years ago was a rather iffy proposition. Prayer, faith, exercise, a low salt diet, and, of course, the amazing family, are tremendous curatives. Another great blessing is the number of people I love. I don't think you can be a good teacher (or play director) if you don't love your students (and your actors and techies). I look around my room and see classroom photos, framed poems and prayers for teachers, posters from some of my plays, dancing licenses, honorary doctoral degrees, magazine covers, and photographs from GREASE, BYE,BYE BIRDIE, SOUTH PACIFIC, SUMMER BRAVE, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, STACEY FOXX, LITTLE WOMEN, WEIRD SISTERS, FIDDLER, ROMEO AND JULIET, A GIRL OF TWO WORLDS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and . . .more. The faces in those photos are of people I love. Of people I hold dear in my heart.
None of this is a surprise to me. I've known it, though I may have forgotten it at times. But thinking about it just now might be the particular reason that insured today would be such a truly, truly nice day.
there are three things that last forever:
Faith, hope, and love;
But the greatest of them all is love.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Faith, hope, and love;
But the greatest of them all is love.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-7
It's amazing when you meet a person like you, and you're left to only think "he's such a great teacher/director/guy." But then you are struck with a bit of truth, "he is one and I am just one of hundreds, as much as he means to me, surely I'm not much to him." But of course, you are such a great guy, and we do all seem to matter to you. That is what is truly remarkable about you, you care.
ReplyDeleteWords are easier to write, very often, than they are to say...
Thank you.
I am going to have to agree with Scott. While in college I heard over and over again, "Are you going to be the next Mr. Ellstrom?" From the English teacher right down to the white Jeep Wrangler. At the time I always thought that I was totally going to be the next Mr. E. Now I realize, if i can be half the person (teacher, director, friend) you are, I will have met many of my goals!
ReplyDeleteThanks Greg!
Greg, As we travel this road, we do learn that it was never about the 'stuff' it is and has always been about the people we meet along the way. The lives we touch, and touch us. As I get older, I like myself and others more. I get braver, that's kind of cool. And yes, you do have a great family. I feel fortuante to call you friend.
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