These first thoughts I initially heard at the memorial service for a good friend. His son used them in his eulogy, and I think they are worth repeating.

With a little help from Henry Scott Holland and the last scene from the movie Titantic, I think this is what dying is like.

Imagine that a great ship sets out from the dock towards the sea. One of Dad's lakeboats, perhaps, leaving the Dofasco docks, heading through the Burlington Canal, underneath the iron bridge and into Lake Ontario.

She is a thing of beauty. The farther she goes, the smaller she looks until she becomes but a speck on the horizon and then she is gone, gone from our sight .... but not really gone. For the loss of sight is in us, not her.

For at just the exact moment that we can see her no more, there are others upon another shore who take up the glad shout: "Here he comes!!!" .... and that, my friends, is dying.

We were not ready to let Dad go, but neither could we hold on to him. And he went to another far distant shore, and there, he was met by (members of the family) and all those who had gone on before him.

As he left our arms, he was welcomed and embraced by theirs, and by the arms of Jesus, and friends, and what a homecoming that moment in eternity was and will be for ever more. And when we make that final journey, Dad will be there to meet us.

AMEN

* * * * * *

A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in 9 holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him.

To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn't hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently and didn't waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball – and directly between his ball and the green. After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot the old man finally said, "You know, when I was your age I'd hit the ball right over that tree." With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay.

The old man offered one more comment, "Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only 3 feet tall.

Things Are Changing

Everything is further away now than it used to be.

It is twice as far to the corner and they have added a hill, I noticed.

I have given up running for the bus, it leaves faster than it used to.

It seems to me they are making steps steeper than in the old days.

And have you noticed the smaller print they use in the newspapers?

There is no sense in asking anyone to read aloud.

Everyone speaks in such a low voice, I can hardly hear them.

The material in clothing is getting very skimpy, especially around the waist and hips.

Even people are changing; They are so much younger than they used to be when I was their age.

On the other hand, people my age are so much older than I am.

I ran into an old friend the other day and she had aged so much she didn't recognize me.

I got to thinking about the poor thing while I was combing my hair this morning.

And in doing so, I glanced at my reflection and CONFOUND IT,

They don't even make good mirrors like they used to.

Age of Reason:- http://www.ageofreason.com/

Canadian Integrated Internet Services:- http://www.seniors.gc.ca

Fifty-Plus Circle of Friends:- http://www.fifty-plus.net/

Grandparents:- http://www.igrandparents.com/

Grand Times:- http://www.grandtimes.com/

Health Link:- http://healthlink.mcw.edu/travel-links.html

InfoAbility Information and Referral Service:- http://www.infoability.org/

SeniorNet Assn Inc Front Banner:- http://www.seniornet.com.au/

The music, Memories, ©2000 LLERRAH, Inc is sequenced and performed by Margi Harrell and is used with her permission. If you wish to use Ms Harrell's music you must contact her at http://www.llerrah.com/ where you will find many wonderful midis as well as CDs for sale!

The Legal Bits & Pieces

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