Premature...

pre-ma-ture  adj. Occurring, born, done, or existing prior to the customary, correct or assigned time, early.
   This week a premature death occurred.  A young woman of body and spirit, left this earth "prematurely".  When you are young, or as I think of people now, in their 60's, it is just too soon to be thinking about death, but this week, that reality hit home for me.  She was my age and didn't look a day over 50.  She was health conscious and loved life.  She loved God and spoke of him often.  I know she is in a good place now, but I feel sad for all of us that knew her.  We are still here, with many unanswered questions...all her questions are answered.  I am glad I had I got to know her for the short time that I did.  I hope someday, when it is my turn to get my questions answered, someone will look back on my life and say that I made a difference, that I made someone laugh or think.  That I made a difference in my family's life and that I left something behind that will be remembered always.
   I was born at a time when smoking was acceptable, even on an airplane.  Seat belts were thought of as a bother and car seats for children were our Mom's laps or the arm rest in the car.  Telephones were the only high tech thing we had and it was attached to the wall and had words as the first part of the number.  My old number was: Hyatt 8-6468.  Isn't that funny that I still remember that?  We also were on a party line with our neighbors down the road.  Parking had a whole new meaning when I was growing up.  It wasn't in a lot, but down our favorite dirt road.  Going to a gas station was a pleasant experience.  Someone came out to our car, washed our windows, filled our gas tanks, all for about $5....wow, I can't even believe that.   We had our Happy Day hangout with a jukebox and you knew everyone that came in.  In the summertime we had the Root Beer stand where I worked.  It was the social hangout for everyone and cruising around with the windows down was what everyone did.  Yes, it is true my life is over half over, but that first half was really something special and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The second half is so much different than the first.  I have made a family and now my family is at the center of all my memories.  My mission now, is to leave behind me my footprints that they can follow and always remember.