PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE – April, 2013

| April 4, 2013

Dear Readers,  hope everyone had a very wonderful Easter and although most people are on the hunt to execute the ground hog for his cruel and untrue prediction of an early spring, we endure the cold and only hope our winter coats will hibernate soon. I’m writing this prior to Easter, so I don’t really know if I’ll be wearing my spring sandals to Sunday mass or my boots. We can only hope that spring will pop up soon and April will not fool us with any more surprise snow storms.

On a somber note, during the first week of March, I received the sad news of a fellow parishioner who passed away. We worked together on our church’s finance council and he was instrumental in writing up protocol and being a watchdog for the church’s many repairs and finances. He also always complimented me on the paper and told me how much he enjoyed it.

He had resigned from the finance council about a month before he passed stating that his cancer had returned. I had sent him an email expressing my thoughts and prayers would be with him during this time. He said he was confident that he had conquered the cancer once and he would do it again. At the time, I had no doubt that his strong will would get him through his newest ordeal again and asked the Lord to give him the strength he needed. So it came as such a shock that he had passed so quickly. I then started to reflect on the fact that several times we had talked about meeting for breakfast or lunch to discuss some of the issues that our church faced and see if we could come up with some viable solutions. Unfortunately, that meeting never came to pass and I now am regretting never having to made that appointment. I only have an email to read over and over again. I think of the knowledge I might have gained or the laughter we might have shared if we had made that meeting together which now can never take place.

For some reason this instance struck me and stuck with me. How many times have we hurriedly dismissed ourselves from talking with someone or abruptly ended a conversation because we are too busy to take the time to talk? How many times have we had sharp words with a loved one and they leave the house with hard feelings or upset; or in this instance, putting off a meeting or telephone call to a friend or relative for another day? That day, unfortunately, may never come. So with spring here and April offering up more sunshine and new beginnings, why not make that call, go see that friend or relative, take a walk, say hello to your neighbors or write a “just saying hello” card to someone you love? Don’t let another minute go by that you might regret not taking advantage of. Rest in Peace Jim Klafeta, July 8, 1942 – March 3, 2013 – It was an honor and pleasure knowing you.

Soon after Jim’s passing, I received an email with a very thought provoking message which seemed appropriate to print along with my thoughts.

AND THEN IT IS WINTER

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. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. 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 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 getting grey…they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse 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 on this earth…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 this is 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!
HAVE A GREAT DAY

Remember “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE SO – ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

Author unknown

Hope you played some good April Fool’s Day jokes, take part in many of the Earth Day celebrations going on around the area and remember, if you take any good pics, have a tip or have something to say, send it along to the paper. We’ll see you in May!  GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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