I’m back! More than likely you had no idea I had been gone. It’s been almost five weeks since I wrote my last column, so hopefully you are pleased to see me here today. But then again…maybe not. I have taken the month of October off from writing my column the last few years. Just a chance to rest my head and conjure up some new ideas. You’d be surprised how quickly Friday rolls around when you have a writing assignment due every Thursday. My biggest fear when writing my column is that I will repeat myself and tell a story that I have already shared. “Hey, I think he wrote about this already.”

I do cover some of the same topics and themes occasionally, but I always try to express myself from different angles and perspectives. That is what I hear good writers do, so that is my aim.

Looking back since my last column in late September, a lot has happened. I am reminded of country music artist Tracy Lawrence’s song, Time Marches On. Have you heard of it? It’s an oldie, most certainly a goldie, and absolutely true about life. Time marches on, with or without us, life waits on no one.

“The south moves north, the north moves south
A star is born, a star burns out
The only thing that stays the same is
Everything changes, everything changes.

As the angels sing an old Hank Williams song
Time marches on, time marches on
Yeah, time marches on, time marches on.”

In a little over a month from my last column, one of the greatest baseball players to step on a baseball field passed away, Pete Rose. Also, one of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever pick up a guitar went on ahead as well, Kris Kristofferson. I know other celebrities passed as well, but I love baseball and music, so these two certainly made me pause. Pete Rose just seemed too tough to die, and I honestly believed someone as talented at Kristofferson was immortal. I know his songs are.

On a closer note, I unfortunately attended the funerals of two close friends last month. One of whom was coaching his high school boys’ basketball team in the State Tournament this time last year in San Antonio.

Life isn’t fair and makes no sense at times. But even still, time marches on.

I have often opined in my column about my dislike for turning sixty last year. Well, I turn sixty-one in about three weeks and I and BEYOND GRATEFUL.

The best part for me about turning sixty-one is that I am lucky enough to turn sixty-one. My mom only made it to fifty-seven. I see no reason to have been granted more time on earth than her, so I chalk it up to luck. I’ve certainly done nothing to deserve it.

But also, in the five weeks since my last column, some incredible things have happened. My niece married the love of her life, and I got to officiate their wedding.

I spent three nights and four days in Virginia with my son and daughter-in-law. The weather was incredible, and we spent one day just eating ribs off the grill and watching college football. It was perfect. I even went to the Spy Museum in Washington D.C. and saw all of the cars used in the James Bond movies. Now that was cool.

I spent a weekend in Austin watching my granddaughters play soccer. They each scored a goal, and my little grandson cheered them on. It does not get much better than that.

I tagged along with my brother to his forty-fifth high school reunion. We had a blast and reconnected with some old friends. No doubt, people do change, but from what I can tell, it’s for the better.

The great motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “Life is not just the passing of time. Life is the collection of experiences and their intensity and frequency.

Going to your grandchildren’s soccer games, spending the weekend with your adult kids, taking a friend out to lunch, going fishing with a buddy, shopping with your daughter, attending your high school reunion, calling a long-lost family member. Those are experiences worth collecting, and they all involve people you care about and love.

Doing things with others and for others seems to be the steady cadence …. as time marches on.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].