What's a few days to you?
What if that's all you had left, a few days?
Does it make a difference knowing how long your personal life-clock has on it?
Would you ever want to know how many days are still to come?
What is "time" to you?
Why does it matter?



I watched Austin carry on a conversation recently at a local Target store and it made me think of this string of questions. As I watched, I learned, as always. He really doesn't care. Oh, but that's all in a very good way. He doesn't care in that he's not worrying about what comes next. He lives in the moment of "every" moment. And in those moments he tries to make them the best moment he could ever have, every time.

The conversation went something like this- "Are you African-American? Why yes, I am sweetie. Oh my gosh, that is so cool. Why, that is cool isn't it! The color of you is so pretty. I wish I could look like you, so chocolaty and smooth! You are so pretty. Serious giggles from the pretty lady with which he bantered. I know I can never be the same beautiful color as you but I sure wish I could have those things you have. What, my hair? Yeah, those are so cool. Those are corn-rows. You could have em too if you really wanted them. Daaad! You gotta let me get those. Those are the bomb. You have the most adorable young man I have ever met. You should be very proud of him.

This was just one of countless conversations I am drawn into for being a part of my eldest sons world. Teresa has had this same experience while at Sam's a few weeks ago. He lives each and every moment like he was drawing his last breath.

After we left the store I continued thinking about the pretty lady and Austin carrying on like two long-lost friends. Both smiles a mile wide and laughter you could hear throughout the store. They didn't care, they both cackled like they ruled the roost- I thought I saw tears come to her eyes.

As we drove home my thoughts shifted to the time I spend with my boys and my wife. I thought of time in general. And then I thought of how much time I had with Austin and Logan knowing we would be somewhat of an empty nest in two short years.

And then I took it a step further... How much time do I have on this spinning ball we call earth.

Something kept gnawing at the back of my mind. When I got home I went straight to the Mac. Here is what I found:

The average life expectancy in the United States (According to Wiki/CIA/WHO and the UN), is 79 years. Male- 76 and Female 81 and we rank 33th in the world.

What this means is that I have currently lived about 17,520 days, or 63% lived, leaving me with about 10,220 days or 37% of my life left. Wooah. I read these numbers and calculated these percentages and when I was done I was taken aback. I have already, according to statistics, lived about two-thirds of my life. Even as I write this I am still a little stunned by my calculations. Am I really that far along on my life journey? Have I lived it like I would have wanted and how I should have?

I have a pretty good idea and am confident to where I am going near the end, but what about now?

I remember last week I spent the better part of a couple of days worrying and complaining about my sore back, my unsold (not even on the market yet), house and numerous other trivial things. I am always a half-full kinda guy... but I keep so many of these "little"things tucked away and they do "gnaw" at me.



And then I thought of my silly son and his desire to be a goofy pretty-skinned black boy with corn-rows. Austin knows how to live right.

And then just last night he proved it again.

 In-line to see Monsters University he was having a field-day... It was a sold-out show. There were people everywhere. Austin was in heaven. He couldn't say hello to enough people. And then he spotted a group off to the side. Hey, Betty, (name changed to protect the innocent)... Hi, she says. She didn't even look in his direction and she looked annoyed to even be answering him. I'd seen this interaction happen all too many times. How's it going, he continued? She didn't even look towards him (but I saw her look of disdain and annoyance). All her friends looked to Auz, as did I. Well, I'm sure you're doin awesome so I hope you enjoy the movie, it's gunna be great!" At this her friends erupted into laughter. I could barely contain a smile.

Austin was not being rude, nor was he trying to be mean. What he showed me was how he responds to times that would make me or you possibly uncomfortable. Instead of letting a person get him down, he carried-on- as he does every day.

He showed me with these two examples what it means to live every day. I try to be more like him in all that I do. It doesn't always work. It's so hard to be full of so much positive energy all the time.

And looking and thinking about how much time we have on earth, it makes me think that maybe Austin, living each day to the fullest, knows something maybe I do not.

So, of the 37% of my life (maybe) I have to live, I am going to try and live more like Austin. The simple things in Austin's life are what's important!!!

We are alive for the blink of an eye.

I don't wanna be like Mike... I wanna be like Auz, but I don't want the corn-rows.

I am blessed to have Austin and Logan in my life. It is an honor and privilege, albeit short, so I too will carry on and stay the course!