The celebration of another Birthday arrives and here I am, emotionally juxtaposed.

Maybe its normal to feel conflicted, or maybe its not.

I've had one of the better summers I can remember. Out of state adventures, long road trips, quiet afternoons on the lake, and romantic meals over candlelight. It truly has been world class.. However, Life seems to be happening all around me and I cant help but feel a little guilty.

How can a man like Terry lead a seemingly normal life; get married and raise a family only to have to endure such tragedy time and time again? Words fail miserably to describe the level of pain an individual must bear to bury his Wife of over forty years, and both of his children all stricken by the same genetic monster. The story is tragic enough until you actually meet the man and realize just how truly wonderful he is. How can all of this happen to such a wonderful person? Nobody knows. God is the only one who knows, and he's not telling. The God that you let into your life is the God that makes good things possible and bad things permissible. Realizing I have no control has been an enormous pill to swallow. My heart goes out to Terry and his entire family during this incredibly difficult time.

Lifes tragic events remind me of the fragility of life and just how inconsequent our egos really are. The things we possess and acrue are so fickle and temporary. That's not to say everyone with material possessions is void of human connection and emotional worth, but if I have the choice I can make my decision farely quickly.

The lesson to be learned is a simple one. Love those around you today. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Everything and everybody is placed in your path for a reason. Why not accept things as they come and try to have a positive attitude and vibrant spirit while you walk this Earth? We are all Human, which means we're only a few Chromosomes removed from animals.
The hard part is to not act like animals. We're not rats and life isn't the sort of race you've been conditioned to run..

It's a short distance to the finish line and I'm looking to cross it with a smile on my face.