Since the beginning of man, some group or religious sect has predicted the "End of the Earth." Well, thankfully so far, neither they, Nostrodomus or anyone else has predicted Earth's demise correctly. Today, May 21, 2011 was a day some religious groups thought would be the end of the world. Most reports of their beliefs were met with sarcasm and jokes. It did however make me think; what if today was my last day on Earth? What if it was yours? How would you spend it? This is how I spent mine.
My "Day of Doom" began at 7:30 AM as my 7 year old daughter woke me up. Like me, she is an early riser compared to my wife and my son, and just wanted daddy's company. Not a bad start. My son had a make-up baseball game scheduled for noon, so we awakened him - which on some mornings is like waking a bear from hybernation - so we could run a few errands before his game. My oldest daughter had to work, therefore she dropped her 4 year old son, my grandson, over so my wife could take him to his final soccer game of the season.
My son, finally dressed, and I started our errands. I grabbed a cup of warm coffee (2 Splenda's & cream) from Tim Horton's and we headed for the barbershop. Today was slated to be a gorgeous day, so while we got our hair cut, I got the SUV washed at fellow Eastmoor High School alum's car wash "Sammy's Auto Clean." The barbershop conversation was lively and centered around LeBron James and his leaving for Miami (still!?). The consensus was that comparing Cleveland to Miami, we all would have left! No one even minded "The Decision" because how many times have you heard a player learning about being traded to a different team on ESPN rather than from his organization? If that's the culture owners set, then they can't be mad when the shoe get's on the other foot. I would have taken my talents to "Souf" Beach too! Plus, no one mentions the millions of dollars donated to charity "The Decision" created.
Arriving to his game, we discovered that despite the sunny morning, the field was completely unplayable due to the immense amount of rain we've received. His game was cancelled. Good thing because while taking my mom and my grandson to his soccer game, my wife suddenly became violently ill. I left my son with his team at one Gahanna park to rescue the rest of my crew at another. Fortunately, her parents live only a 6-Iron away from Headley Park and I came as my father-in-law was driving my wife away in her car. As I came upon my mom and young daughter, my mother-in-law arrived to bring them back to the house. Luckily, I was able to watch the rest of my grandson's soccer game before heading back to pick up my son.
While picking up my son, my cousin called and needed a ride to an auto repair shop to pick up his car. Since my wife was sick, they told my grandson that he couldn't go to the year-end pizza party at Massey's Pizza. Poor little guy's face clouded up, and to him, it was the end-of-the-world. Grand Dad to the rescue! I was able to take him to his pizza party and watch him receive his medal, certificate, and eat the piece of cake with his name on it! Not bad.
I picked up my cousin and his three young children and took them to pick up his car. He really appreciated the favor, but really, the favor was to me because I was able to spend a few moments with him and his adorable children. The rest of the afternoon was spent trimming bushes, cutting grass and purchasing flower bowls from DeMonye's for the beautiful hanging garden on our deck. With all the rain this spring, everyone's yard looks like a resort when freshly cut.
It was early enough when I finished that I decided to take my two youngest children and my grandson to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4 at Easton. My wife enjoyed the several hours of piece and quiet and I enjoyed several hours with the most important young people in my life. Driving to the theater, Will Smith's song "Summertime" played and all seemed too right in the world for it to end today.
The movie is over, the Earth is still here and the kids are safe in the bed. Currently, as I write to share my day with you, I am on my deck sipping a delicious glass of Sunstone Estate 2006 Syrah while taking soothing drags from a lucious Monte Cristo Reserva Negra cigar.
Some may have had a more exciting "last day," but as I reflect, I spent quality time with my youngest children and grandson, saw my in-laws, spoke to my eldest daughter, saw my grandson recieve his medal, spent time with my cousin and his children, spend quality "alone" time in my yard, spoke with and attempted communication with both women who call me son, thought fondly of my sisters, took in a movie, and had a great glass of wine and cigar. At the very end to this day, I will thank God for all my blessings and beg forgiveness for all of the dumb things I've done in my life. And at the end, I will fall asleep next to the best friend I ever had.
If today is my last day on this Earth, it was a pretty damn good day and it has been a damn good life...but I'm glad they were wrong.
