Today’s a new day! As most of you know, I am in the twenty-second year of this crazy beautiful health journey. On more than one occasion, Laura and I have been told I only had hours, weeks or months to live. So my health journey has sort of become a long goodbye. I was diagnosed with dementia a month ago, so I have spent a little more time reflecting on my life and this journey. Sometimes, I feel like a rockstar or band that is on a continuous farewell tour. Here are some words that came to my mind.

The Long Goodbye

This long goodbye brings with it many different emotions

This long goodbye is filled with moments of crying out to God; some days are filled with questions, but most days are filled with praise and thanksgiving

Praise and thanksgiving? How could that be?

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to live. I mean really live. From skydiving to meeting a former President, my life has been filled with amazing moments

This long goodbye, has given me the opportunity to love my bride longer than the experts predicted

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to spend more time with friends, make new friends and reconnect with some old friends

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to make more mistakes and learn some valuable lessons from those mistakes

This long goodbye has given me the beautiful opportunity to realize life is not all about me

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to serve others

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to receive and share the beautiful gift of forgiveness

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to grow as a person

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to become a runner, write two books, have a movie made about my life and write a song that is on an actual album

This long goodbye has given me with the beautiful opportunity to meet some amazing people

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to share and receive hope, love and encouragement

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to laugh, cry and reflect

This long goodbye has given me the opportunity to share the story God gave me so many years ago

I am thankful for this long goodbye and the beautiful gifts it has given me. ~OC