Bittersweet Homecoming
Today I took a little trip back to the small town where I grew up. Had some business to do there. Nothing serious, just closing an old checking account, insurance agency, that sort of stuff. But the visit dredged up a million old memories.
At the bank, I noticed the last name of the young man who was closing my account, "Jolda", and I had to ask, "Are you related to the Mr. Jolda who used to teach at the high school?"
"Yes," he responded, "He was my grandfather."
After a little more conversation, I discovered that Mr. Jolda passed on a couple of years ago. I finished my business and gave my best wishes to the young man and his family. I told him that his grandfather was largely responsible for leading me to the career I have today. He was a nice man.
The look on the young man's face was thankful and I could see the love he had for his grandfather. I'm certain that hearing that meant a great deal to him.
Still, it was so sad to find out that yet another person who affected my life had passed on and that my little home town had been changing in the years I've been gone. So I stopped by my Dad's favorite bar and had myself a beer and spent a while talking to the barmaid who'd been a friend of my Dad's for many years.
We talked about my Dad and talked about the little things going on in our lives that move us forward. I still miss my Dad. I always will but with the bitter was the sweet of seeing people who shared love of folks who meant something to me in my life.
It's taking the good and passing it forward. It's something that makes the journey we call life so much more worthwhile.
At the bank, I noticed the last name of the young man who was closing my account, "Jolda", and I had to ask, "Are you related to the Mr. Jolda who used to teach at the high school?"
"Yes," he responded, "He was my grandfather."
After a little more conversation, I discovered that Mr. Jolda passed on a couple of years ago. I finished my business and gave my best wishes to the young man and his family. I told him that his grandfather was largely responsible for leading me to the career I have today. He was a nice man.
The look on the young man's face was thankful and I could see the love he had for his grandfather. I'm certain that hearing that meant a great deal to him.
Still, it was so sad to find out that yet another person who affected my life had passed on and that my little home town had been changing in the years I've been gone. So I stopped by my Dad's favorite bar and had myself a beer and spent a while talking to the barmaid who'd been a friend of my Dad's for many years.
We talked about my Dad and talked about the little things going on in our lives that move us forward. I still miss my Dad. I always will but with the bitter was the sweet of seeing people who shared love of folks who meant something to me in my life.
It's taking the good and passing it forward. It's something that makes the journey we call life so much more worthwhile.