savoring the moments

well my dear ones,

I was looking through the wiki page

for Catherine Zeta-Jones;

there's a lot about her career

and her current marriage,

but interestingly no mention

that when she first came to the USA

it was in the company of her old boyfriend,

one Angus MacFadyen

(he played Robert the Bruce in Braveheart,

and she is mentioned on his wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Macfadyen).

Back in 1994, I was fortunate enough to be

doing some work travel that allowed me

to be able to do a stopover in Scotland,

so that I could visit David MacFadyen,

my great uncle, the guy after whom

I was named, who also happens to be

the grand dad of Angus.

While chatting over tea one day,

(it is the UK after all *lol*)

my uncle brought out a video of

one of our family's Scotland weddings

that he thought I might find interesting

because my cousin Angus' date,

the lovely Miss Catherine Zeta-Jones,

gifted all those present

by singing a song in Welsh.

Before she started, she told the audience

that the song, like most Welsh songs,

is about the land (Wales).

Her voice was beautiful

and the song was haunting and ethereal.

My cuz and Catherine didn't make it;

my uncle has since gone on

to his heavenly reward,

and the video is who-knows-where.

Hence, my chances of hearing

a repeat of that song are pretty nil.

That's why I'm glad I paid close attention

and savored the moment back when I heard it.

I savored the moment

when my wife and I got married

on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Most people (even me) are smart enough

to savor moments of that magnitude,

but it's the small unexpected moments

that really need to be cherished.

Long before we ever got married,

my wife and I went on a picnic back when

we were just getting to know each other.

I stored that day in my mind

so I still get to replay as often as I wish.

I wish you all the discernment

to savor the little moments of joy,

so their memory can carry you through

the tough days.

Have a great week!

grace, peace, and love to you,

dave


P.S.  I hope you all had a Happy Father's Day.

      But if you didn't, if you're Dad

      wasn't the greatest,

      of if he took off on you,

      or caused you pain,

      remember he's just a flawed human being

      and it's never too late to forgive him

      (even if he's passed on)

      and thereby get some of God's peace
      in your life.  Peace to you all.