Close To My Heart

~Quality Time: The Importance of Family Connections~

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

 

There are times when I would give anything to go back in time and spend one more day with my children when they were little. If I had the chance, I’d be more present. Pay more attention. Listen. They’re all grown up now, but I’m happy to say it’s not too late.

A few weeks ago, we had the chance to spend time together. Because we all live in different towns, we don’t do that often, so it makes every visit special. And I can’t stop thinking about how much I enjoyed it.

We didn’t do anything special, just ate together and visited. That afternoon, we sat in the sunroom and enjoyed a beautiful spring day while we talked about old times and shared news about the grandchildren. At one point, I glanced around the room and saw my sons sitting next to their wives (women I’ve grown to love fiercely over the years), and saw the affection between them. It made my heart full. From now on, I plan to make every minute I get to spend with them count. 

Away Beyond The Blue

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

This is something I posted several years ago. Since then I’ve reposted it every years on Daylon’s birthday.

While channel surfing this weekend, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why.

In the movie, Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an average middle-class guy who loves his family and works hard to provide for them. Only there’s another side to his character. He still believes in magic. In the movie, when Roy experiences a close encounter, he doubts his sanity. But he can’t let it go because deep down inside, he wants it to be true. So he makes up his mind to prove it.

My husband was that same kind of man. He worked hard, took care of his family, and lived a quiet life. But, like Roy, there was more to him than met the eye. The casual observer never saw his keen sense of adventure. He had a fascination for the mysterious, the unexplained. The idea of travelers from another world was intriguing to him.

He would have loved the chance to do what Roy did at the end of the movie. So it isn’t hard to visualize him on the runway at the end of the movie, all smiles. Reluctant to leave his life on earth, yet filled with nervous anticipation at the thought of going on an adventure beyond the stars.

I like to think that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. And I’m certain he’s enjoying every minute.

Someday, I’ll join him.