The Reason Behind the Seasons

My husband celebrated his 60th birthday last week.  As I have done with the rest of "our group" who have achieved this milestone, I created his birthday card using "A Tree For All Seasons".  And I will continue this tradition until all 9 of us pass that mark even if it takes a few years for "the baby" to catch up.  

The reason I chose this stamp set is because of 1) an e-mail that the oldest of us shared with the group before his 60th, and 2) the ensuing responses and continuing discussions.  

This thought-provoking essay from an anonymous source was the content of the e-mail:

And It's Winter before We Know It 
Author unknown 

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. 

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.   And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.  I know that I lived them all... 

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go? 

I remember well.. seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...  But, here it is...my friends are retired and really getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Lots are in better shape than me... but, I see the great change...  Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. 

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!  And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory!  Cause if I don't on my own free will...I just fall asleep where I sit! 

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! 

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over...its over....Yes , I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done ,,,,,things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done.  It's all in a lifetime.... 

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!  Don't put things off too long!! 

Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you will reach your winter or not! 

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. 

Make it a fantastic one." 

LIVE IT WELL!!----ENJOY TODAY!!!!-----DO SOMETHING FUN!----BE HAPPY!----BE THANKFUL!

There were some who thought that this was a bit of a downer standing fast to remaining in the summer, yes summer of our lives.  There were those who readily admitted to being in the autumn stage but not the end of it, only the beginning.  And then it was seemingly forgotten until one of us was actually on the verge of an equinox.

I don't remember exactly how, but this came up as a topic of discussion New Year's Eve 2012 when we were all together and with only a few months before the first birthday.   

Late that night, after we had eaten and after many spirits had been consumed somehow the conversation turned to this topic.   The "summer-thinking" people were pleading their case and HWNSNBP was having nothing to do with their claims.  He started waxing poetic and likening us to trees and how we have changed in appearance (I think he might have gotten some ideas from this post of mine back in 2009) and with some cajoling agreed to the premise that the men had reached or were entering their "winters" but the sap was still flowing and the ladies were in their very beautiful "autumn" with all of it's beautiful colors (which says quite a lot from a colorblind person I'll add!).  

So, starting back with that first 60th birthday, the second, and now this one, I've tried to hold true to both the seasons and tree theme.  

I can't say that I'm ready to be a tree in winter, but I have a little bit of time yet to enjoy my autumn.

And as for HWNSNBP, he has been my sheltering tree and I hope to remain at his side for a very long winter.