The Dash

One of my friends Pam Wilson shared this poem with me. I think my dad did a lot with his dash and I am proud of all he accomplished.  At the funeral, the pastor said to think of my dad when your cell phone rings. My dad was a part of the trial team for cell phones, the funny part is he never owned/purchased a cell phone his entire life (they were company phones, then he never purchased one when he retired). So think of my dad when your cell phone rings. 

What are you doing with your dash? I am thinking about that..now..

The Dash Poem - by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone

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

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
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.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?"