As I went through Erie Street Cemetery yesterday in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. . .I couldn't help but note on the fact that one. . . It's a shame that the city--or whomever is responsible for the upkeep of this hallowed ground has let this place just go to crap. . .two. . .that all of these people resting quietly here once had people that cared about them--cared about them enough to erect some type of stone memorial--big or small because they mattered to somebody. . .and three. . .as in the case of Daisy Conley, who graced this planet for inside of one year, 126 years ago, you don't even end up a footnote. . .most of us don't.
We may end up as somebody's memory for a while. . .
But, eventually. . .the flame flickers out. . .
Folks, it will only be for a short time. . .which doesn't mean you can't be somebody's inspiration. . .
It's good to have dreams. . .while you carry out your dreams . . .your goals . . .your aspirations. . .you may be somebody's inspiration. . .that's all we're given. . .really. . .sure, we have to cut the grass, get the house ready for winter, look forward to or dread that tomorrow is a Monday and it, as if life somehow starts on Mondays, all starts over again. . .
So as you go about your business today. . .what are you doing?
Are you even conscious? Are you looking back at the past with regret? The what-might-have-been? Are you doing, being, living NOW? If you are around younger people, you are being watched. . .I'm not saying you have to be a mentor--but, we are all mentors in some way. . .and when you get to be a certain age (and, I must admit, I probably AM no longer on the wall here. . .you tip over that wall eventually, but it doesn't mean you wallow in Jello and listen to Rush. . .and I don't mean the music group). . .people may just pay attention to what you are saying. . .
Our twelve-year-old grandson lives with us. . .we are being observed. . .this is how you carve out a life. . .this is how you treat people. . .this is what it means to be responsible. . .this is what it means to be active. . .LIFE IS NOT A VIDEO GAME. . .
We have two sets of great neighbors on either side of us. . .one couple is around forty-five. . .the other couple is in their late thirties. . .we are the old folks. . .but, we serve a purpose. . .our house is in the middle. . .it is the gathering place. . .and while we share wine and food. . .we talk. . .we are observed. . .and in some small way, maybe we make a difference. . .we all speak from our hearts. . .and then everybody goes home. . .
But, one day, it all comes down to this:
But, you have today. . .you have this hour. . .you have this minute. . .you can make a difference in somebody's life. . .if you're extremely talented and lucky. . .you may end up a footnote. . .most likely, not. . .99.9% of us are not Mozart. . .we are not Melville. . .we are just Mary, Joe, Alice, John, Jane. . .in the end, we all end up less than footnotes. . .but, you can never know the difference you can make in one person's life. . .
In the year 2137, somebody will look down on you. . .
. . .and maybe somebody will take a photo (or mind-meld the image immediately into their digital storage unit in their brain). . .and probably KNOW everything about you. . .so, just maybe. . .we are thinking too small. . . . .maybe there are no footnotes. . .maybe what we do today will be known in some metaphysical sense 126 years from now. . .please. . .do something that makes a difference. . today. . .don't have that person look down on you and shake their head and say. . .on Sunday, October 23, 2011. . .this person actually spent an hour of their time watching Desperate Housewives. . .
And so it goes. . .
For better or worse. . .
Somebody is watching you. . .somebody is paying attention
