Today I spent the day with my mom and my nephew, The Captain. It was a very easy day. It was also a profound day for me. Most of the day went by in a haze of routine but as the day winded down and I got ready for bed I began to think and something hit me that I wasn’t prepared for. As those around me know a couple years ago I began a journey of discovery: discovery about myself and about how to find a healthier lifestyle. See, for as far back as I can remember I always had this feeling that I was going to die relatively young, certainly before i turned 40. I knew my family medical history and just felt that it was inevitable. With that as my base I never really prepared myself for certain things in life because I never expected to be around when they would take place. As my healthier lifestyle journey continues I’m starting to look past 40 and tonight it hit me “hard” that I’m very lucky and blessed to still have my parents with me. I always assumed I’d go before they did so I never thought about what life might be like when they’re gone and I realized I”m not ready for them to go, not yet. I have a lot I want to accomplish so they can know that I’ll be ok, that all of their kids will be ok. I want to make sure they are proud of me, of the life I’ve chosen and of the man I’ve become. To some, this might seem sad or somber for a time of year that is usually left for happiness and fun but this is. See, my parents are still with me so I am blessed and thankful for more time to accomplish those things and to cherish the time I have with them and to make as many more memories with them as possible. This is usually reserved for the first of a new year but as the quote goes, “there is no perfect time to start, starting makes the timing perfect.” I am going to make it a point to spend time each week with them, talking, sharing stories and gleaning everything I can from them. I’m going to try and take pictures, maybe video clips and soak in every second I have before they’re gone. It might only be Thanksgiving time but in a lot of ways, I feel like Scrooge on Christmas morning and it’s not too late to change.