Can I have a moment of
your time? One moment he
was there and the
next... We will begin in
just a moment. One
moment in time... One
moment, please.
It all began today. My
son and his fiancé had
their wedding shower.
Reality came rushing in
on me and I was washed
ashore. I got
caught up in thoughts of
Keith growing up too
fast. I was taken
by the fact he
should never have made
it this far. In far too
many cases parents of
kids with cancer never
get to see this moment
and yet there it was.
As Marianne and my
family headed to
participate in this
wonderful ritual, I
headed to the mall to do
some shopping. Marianne
turns 41 on September
2nd and I hadn't
purchased a thing for
her birthday. I
absolutely love to shop
for her. I can't stand
shopping with her. I
find what I want,
including some
incredible bargains, and
then I'm out of there. She takes forever.
I immediately found some
beautiful outfits in the
very first store and
decided to have dinner
in the mall food court. There is a great Chinese
restaurant located there
and the owner, Eric Lee,
is the most gracious
business man I know. He
makes me feel important.
I needed that today.
In the center of the
food court is a
beautiful merry go
round. With all the
electronic video games,
super roller coaster
rides and virtual
reality challenges
today, there is nothing
that replaces the thrill
and excitement of
riding atop a tiger,
horse or fantasy
creature. The wind in
your face mixed with the
sound of calliope music
is still unmatched.
Every time I eat there I
sit right next to this
magical machine and
watch parent and child
connect in a way no man
made, futuristic
electronic gizmo can.
Next to me sat a young
girl and her Grandpa
enjoying pizza.
"When are we going to
ride the merry go
round?" the child asked.
"Wait a moment! Finish
your pizza first,"
replied Grandpa.
Minutes later I heard,
"How about now,
Grandpa?"
"Just a moment. I didn't
finish my soda. Besides
I don't think I have
enough money with me.
How much is the ride?"
"I'll go see." She ran
over to the ticket booth
and asked the young man.
"He said $1.50 each,
Grandpa."
"A $1.50? I can remember
riding a merry go round
for a nickel!"
"Well, let's go. You're
comin' with me, right?"
"I haven't been on a
merry go round in years.
I can't come with you."
"Oh, come on, Grandpa.
I'll hold your hand."
"Just give me a moment,"
he said again.
"How long are your
moments anyway grandpa?
I thought a moment was a
lot faster than this,"
the young girl said as
she laid her head on the
table.
Grandpa then looked over
at me laughing and said
"Hey! My time is
valuable!"
The kid then sat up it
said, "How much does a
moment cost?"
"$3.00" replied Grandpa.
I jumped in and reminded
Grandpa how valuable
moments can be.
"My oldest son is
getting married on
October 6th. It was just
yesterday he was that
age. You know I'd give
everything that I have
for just one more moment
like you have right
now."
He smiled and said
"Everything that you
have?"
Perhaps I had no
business saying that.
But I wish someone had
reminded me along the
way.
They finally got up and
headed for the ride. The
little girl ran as fast
as she could and grabbed
this beautiful dragon
with big white teeth and
iridescent green body.
Grandpa followed behind
and sat on a bench
passing up the chance to
sit on a sleek white
stallion next to the
child.
"Come on Grandpa. Ride
the horse. Please? Sing
that song for me. The
one about the broken
merry go round."
"Oh no. I'm not singing
alone," he said as he
walked toward the child.
He turned toward me
looking for moral
support. I shrugged my
shoulders and said,
"Sing Grandpa, sing!"
The bell rang and
Grandpa mounted the
horse on the down
movement. As they slowly
began the magic circle
Grandpa and Grandchild
began to sing..."When
the merry go round broke
down, boop boop. It made
an awful sound."
I knew this song. I grew
up singing the very same
one. When it comes to
the second chorus we
sang it slower until we
all fell down.
"The lights went low, we
both said "Oh!" and the
merry go round went oomp
pa pa, oomp pa pa...."
I was singing right
along with them. What an
incredible moment this
was. In fact one they
both needed to remember.
I walked over to the
ticket booth. "How much
for a Photo?" I asked.
"$3.75"
"What a bargain! Take a
picture of the old man
and the child."
"He said he didn't want
one."
He just didn't know how
valuable a moment was,"
I said.
I paid the man and told
him to give them a copy.
"Tell them that this
moment was priceless."
I walked over to the far
end of the food court as
the ride came to a halt.
Upon exiting the man
handed Grandpa the
picture. He looked at it
and smiled. Looking
around, he searched for
me. Finally he saw me
trying to look
invisible.
He held it up and yelled
"Everything that I
have!"
I waved and continued
shopping.
Think about how many
moments you would like
to re-live. How much
would you pay? How fast
is life passing you by?
How many times did you
say no when you should
have said yes? How many highways did you stay on
because it was quicker
and sacrificed the
scenic route? How many
times did you tell your
child, "Just a moment."
and never followed
through?
My son could have died
from cancer. He's
getting married in
October. I swear he was
three just yesterday. My
youngest son will be old
enough to drive next
year. I swear he just
rode past me on his
tricycle.
"How much does a moment
cost? Everything that
you have!"
I believe in you!"
by Bob Perks© 2001
http://www.bobperks.com/
