It is amazing how quickly time slips by! Speaking of which, you may have wondered what has happened to me. The fact is, we have had a number of health issues at our house, including my own health. Thankfully, I’m good to go, and you can still find me here.
Today, I was thinking about how few posts I’ve written over the last weeks. The reality is that during that same time period I haven’t done much crafting, scrapbooking, or the things like that which I enjoy doing. I would think about it, but just didn’t do it. Now I have nothing to show for that time!
It made me think about how important it is to just DO it! “It” being whatever you are interested in doing. You never know how long you will have to do it, so don’t procrastinate. I look at my dad, and am reminded how important it is to not procrastinate.
For years, my dad was busy from the time he woke up until he fell into bed. After being in the Navy, he became an electrician and eventually also taught part time at the electrical apprenticeship. He became certified in welding because he could often get a job in welding when the electrical jobs were few. He often drove extensive distances to have a job. We were very active in our church. We lived on a hobby farm which kept him busy when he wasn’t at work. He built the home we lived in; and in later years he added a 1 bedroom home onto our house for my mom’s parents; and of course did all the repairs! He worked on our vehicles and other equipment to keep everything running. When he retired from the electrical trade, he started working for an airline and did ground maintenance, which was about everything EXCEPT the airplanes. So what does all this have to do with anything? Believe it or not, besides all that kept him busy, he had a hobby! He had worked in the shoe shop in the Navy, and had learned to tool leather!
Since I had grown up seeing his work, it was what I assumed everyone’s leather tooling looked like. Not true! After I was grown and had a chance to see more leather work, I realized how perfectly wonderful his work was. He had developed his skills to a level that you rarely see. Over the years he made us purses, belts, wallets, binder covers and more. He always wanted to make a saddle, and he finally did it! People thought it was odd that it was on a stand in their front room! Well, it was a work of love, and since it had never been on a horse, that’s where it resided! I once saw another handmade saddle at our state fair, and even though it had earned a blue ribbon, the work was nowhere as exquisite as my dad’s.
A number of years ago, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Those who are not familiar with the disease often think it is just about not being able to remember. It is so much more debilitating than that. As the disease progresses, the person is less and less functional, becoming just a shell of the vibrant people they once were. We now go and sit with my dad, and many days wonder if he understands what is going on or who we are. A once busy and active man now just sits there, as he is unable to even get around anymore.
I am so thankful for the example he set not only in work ethic, but also of taking time to do other things he was interested in!
If you have something you want to do, make time for it!
Don’t look back and wish you had made the time to do it.
Note: I just remembered I recently made one of those ruffly scarves — and was reminded why knitting is not my fave! Last, but not least, the saddle has been “used” by his grandchildren and great grandchildren!
