"So how do you celebrate
the New Year?" I asked the
elderly man.
"I stand on the edge of time
and wave good-bye to
yesterday," he replied.
I was in search of something
again. It certainly seems I've
been searching for something
all of my life. I am happy to
tell you that I have in fact
found most of what I've been
looking for. This time I
needed a new perspective on
how to face the new year. So I
set out in search of a "Father
Time" and I found Fred.
I wanted someone with more
experience than I. I'm fifty,
so I needed someone who had
seen at least 80 new years in
their lifetime. Along the way
people told me that they never
had any use for the New Year
celebration.
"It's amateur night!" one
person told me. "All the fools
who don't normally drink, head
out to make up for it all in
one night."
"I sleep through it all,"
another person told me.
"I sit quietly and watch Dick
Clark on television, then head
off to bed," still another
said.
But Fred, at 85 told me, "I
stand on the edge of time and
wave goodbye to yesterday."
He grabbed my attention.
"Picture for a moment that you
are leaving on a cruise. If
you've never been on one,
perhaps you remember "Love
Boat." he said.
"Well, I haven't been on a
cruise yet, but I do in fact
remember the show "Love Boat."
I replied.
"The difference here is on New
Years Eve, I'm not on the
boat. I'm standing on the dock
or the shore line waving
goodbye. After 85 years I've
seen quite a bit in my life.
I've gained so much and lost
much along the way. But I'm
happy to say I've gained more
than I lost," he said with a
slight grin. "The new year
comes rushing toward us from
east to west and like riding a
surf board I ride the wave of
time. Just as the clock is
about to strike midnight I
turn toward the west and
picture the old year in my
mind. There standing on the
edge, I see old friends who in
the past year have left this
world. I count among these
friends some of the famous
people who have touched my
life with their writing,
music, comedy or bravery in
leading this world into the
future. Oh sure, they don't
know me. But I feel they are a
part of who I am today," he
paused for a moment perhaps
picturing a few of them in his
mind.
"I also see things that
represent events that occurred
in that year that I treasured.
Perhaps a bouquet a flowers
that someone sent to me on my
85th birthday. A baby
representing another
grandchild I've been blessed
with. In the background I see
familiar faces of those loved
ones who throughout my 85
years have long since crossed
over. Even though they are not
a recent memory, they are
forever a part of my cherished
gifts from God," he stopped
now.
Then reaching into his inside
pocket of his suit coat, he
pulled out a wallet. Slowly
opening it he found what he
was looking for. Holding it in
his shaking left hand he
turned toward me and said, "In
the very front of all these
people I see her."
I held his hand and wallet to
steady the picture. There in a
yellowed , cracked and
wrinkled photo pocket was a
picture of a beautiful young
woman. The clothing and hair
style told me that this was
taken many years ago.
"She is beautiful, my friend,"
I said.
"She is my wife, Millie," he
said softly. "I put her in
charge of all those memories.
I believe she gathers them all
together for me every New
Years Eve and then stands
proudly, front and center, and
helps me to remember all of my
blessings."
He then folded and tucked the
wallet back into his coat.
"This tradition all started
years ago when we first got
married. She taught me to
appreciate and honor the past
in this way. We would stand
arm in arm and wave goodbye as
a symbol of unity. The year I
lost her was the most
difficult year for me. In my
loneliness I turned toward the
west and saw her there. As the
clock struck twelve I fell to
my knees and begged for her
not to go. I could see her
leaning toward me, hand
extended and smiling. On the
stroke of the last chime on
our mantle clock she faded off
as she waved goodbye. But
every year since then I have
grown stronger knowing that in
reality she never left me at
all. She just takes over on
New Years Eve and helps me to
get through it until one day I
will stand along side her and
wave goodbye to forever."
"You seem to be okay with it
all," I asked. For he didn't
even shed one tear as he told
me the story.
"Oh, I am. You see the other
part of saying goodbye to one
year is saying hello to yet
another. I turn around in that
split second and welcome with
excitement and anticipation
all the greatness of a fresh
new year. This is not just
another turn of a calendar
page. It is the greatest gift
of all. God has permitted me
to enter into another year. If
the new one is going to be a
filled with as much joy and
love as the old one, I must be
prepared for it. My goodness,
what greater gift could be
given to you, but the gift of
life?"
And so my friends as 2006
rushes past me on New Years
Eve, know that I will be
standing and waving goodbye to
those special loved ones who
will stay behind. But know
also as I turn and face 2007
in that split second I will
imagine each of you standing
there with me. I see you all
standing there with open arms,
and filled with child-like
curiosity and anticipation of
all the greatness , joy and
love 2007 will bring.
Join me as I stand on the edge
of time and wave goodbye to
yesterday and welcome tomorrow
eagerly.
"I Believe in you!"
Bob
Bob@bobperks.com
