P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 235 - A "dash" well spent

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 235 - A "dash" well spent

There was a poem read today at my father's funeral that spoke of the "dash" between the day you are born and the day that you die and how that is the true measure of one's life.  The "dash" is everything in between birth and death -

From the beginning..to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears, 1940 - 2012
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth..
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars..the house..the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

My father spent his dash well.  My brother gave a beautiful eulogy that spoke of our dad's generosity, loyalty, hard work ethic, and love of family and friends.  He summed up our father's "dash" as well as one can in a few minutes.  He was a loving husband, a wonderful father, a doting Poppy, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a friend..... It was a life well spent - even if the dash was shorter than we would have liked.  

My brother put it well when he said - "I will miss you like crazy!"  We all will.