Time and Tide Wait for No Man

It is a remarkable and predictable phenomenon that whatever one is going through, the world marches on, completely and blissfully unaware and unconcerned about the trials and tribulations of one man. This is a humbling realization that should have been no shock at all. Still, for some inexplicable reason this surprised me.

This past weekend, I was sitting at our family table enjoying the tapestry of daily family life when I received the news of the unexpected death of a friend and business colleague. In an instant, the insignificance of my small concerns became immediately apparent. My friend David was a young 61 years old. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

Simultaneous to the sad news of David’s death, we received some good news too. Last summer, my wife Quincy and I “inherited the opportunity” to sell a motor home for my in-laws. This weekend with the help of my friends from Kless Boys, that project came to a happy conclusion with sale of the RV. A small and welcome victory.

Yesterday was a crazy day. My parents are selling their “never lived in by them” house they bought to renovate and spend time in about ten minutes from my home. My parents live in Central Washington and my family is in Western New York. Circumstances have changed and my parents have decided to sell this house. Quincy and I have been getting the house staged and ready for market. Yesterday, local realtors tied into Explore Buffalo‘s Twilight Tour of Homes and held Open Houses throughout the greater Buffalo area. We were blessed by our realtor, Gina Krieger-Gasper, choosing my parents’ home to feature. We decided to make it an event, and offered sandwiches, cookies, fruit, veggies, cheeses, soft drinks and wine. It was a lot of work, and it went well. Let’s hope for a quick sale.

Work is also a great distraction from any temptation I may have to waste any time wallowing in self-pity. Paperwork flows onto my desk with as much force and inevitability as the mighty Mississippi River. Time to wade in…