On another night, about four years ago, we received a phone call from one of my dear friends. He was coming to town and invited us to come up to the Brighton ski resort area to spend the weekend with him, his 4 year old son and his father in their family cabin. “We’ll snow-shoe and build a fire and catch up.” It was not a convenient time. Tosh was in the thick of school, we lived in Logan (which meant driving for 2 + hours), I had a small baby…the excuses went on. My friend, Matt, was disappointed. “Are you sure?” he pleaded. “Yes, it’s just too chaotic for us right now.”
When I hung up the phone, my heart felt sick. After further discussion with Tosh, we decided we should just stop worrying about life and go have some fun for once. We knew we wouldn’t be able to stay long (maybe a day or two) but figured it would be worth it. Matt was thrilled with the change of heart. So we packed an overnight bag and headed out first thing in the morning. During the next couple of days, we made some amazing memories. Kennedy and Jacob had some serious snow fun, we played games, made fires, laughed hysterically, shared stories…. By Saturday night, we knew we should be getting back since we both had chuch responsibilities on Sunday. By Sunday morning, however, we had made other arrangements and decided to stay another day…and then another…and…I don’t know, I think we finally went home Monday night or maybe even Tuesday. We called in sick to work, skipped classes…essentially avoided all responsibilities. Einar, Matt’s dad, kept going out for more food because we had initially brought only enough food to last the short time we were supposed to be there. Einar also taught us how to make the perfect hard boiled egg that weekend. We never boiled an egg again without thinking of Einar and his silly ways.Eventually, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways, happy, refreshed, thankful for good friends and good times. Less than a year later, as we began discussions for finding another wintry weekend to do it all over again, Matt was gone. Little had we known that our weekend trip was the last time we would see him. And now, almost exactly four years later, Einar is now gone too - reunited with his only son. How thankful we are for that treasured moment in time.
Einar Wickman Bergstedt, April 26, 1937 - October 22, 2008
October was a tough month. Lots of stress and chaos in so many ways. It’s not necessarily getting any easier, but the events of this last week – Einar’s passing and remembering Shelly in particular – that stop me in my tracks. Life is short. Cliché, I know, but it’s true. Every day that passes is another day closer, another day of risk and stress…but, each one of those days is also a day of opportunity. A day to ENJOY. A day to love the people around you and relish in their mere presence. And so, I begin this new week with a sigh of gratitude. For those who have left their marks on my life…and for those who are around me now, marking my days with new memories and treasured moments. As one very wise person said:“There is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today…If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly. Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.”
So with that said, my love to whoever is reading this. Remember the most important things this week. Remember the ones who are no longer with you and treasure those sitting right next to you.
