This past week was a weather mess for our county. Snow? Sleet? Ice? Every day we guessed what the skies would deliver. After a light snow on Wednesday, we had a lovely cover for Saturday. Finally what the kids had hoped: snow to sled and snowmen to build. It was lovely.
The anticipation was everywhere all week long. It seemed to me that it was the number one topic in line at the grocery and on Facebook. Will it snow? Will we lose power? Will we have school? I don’t know who was looking forward to snow days more: the kids or the parents or the teachers!
For some reason, the words of a Carly Simon song has been stuck in my brain and playing for days: “Anticipation…is keepin’ me waitin’.” I wasn’t sure of the verses so I looked up the song. I was surprised to find in the verses these lyrics:
We can never know about the days to come But we think about them anyway
And tomorrow we might not be together I’m no prophet and I don’t know nature’s ways
So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days
Wow. According to some, Carly Simon wrote the song about a date that she had. It makes me think of Mom and Dad and their good old days. There is a magazine called “Good Old Days” to which Mom and Dad subscribe. There are stories written by readers of their memories from the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, and even some of the 60’s. They write memories of a favorite pet, of first love, of a treasured home, and the like. Mom loves this magazine. She will read and giggle over a particular memory, and then she will embellish the telling of it to me (or Dad or Jean – depending on who her companion is at the time).
I spend lots of my time holding on to these memories we’re making now. That’s part of why I started writing these articles. “These are the good old days.” I try to look into Mom’s eyes. I do think about the past and certainly wonder about the days to come. I know one day, too soon, I’ll look back and remember these “good old days.” I know what a privilege it is to share these Mondays with her.
Anticipation was the topic of the sermon I had the honor of being able to share at my church yesterday. Anticipation for heaven. For all the glories and joys yet to come. I look forward with great anticipation to being finally home. Many hymn writers speak of heaven and their songs resonate in my mind. Even as I long for it, I try to find the moments of heaven on earth. Many of those moments are when I am with Mom. Her mind is being loosed of the things that bind her here – dates and places and names. However, her true spirit is still here. Her precious smile and contagious laughter. Her heart is still seeking heaven.
Yes, these are the good old days. Let’s embrace them with a sense of anticipation and joy.
