The Dash

                    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 of 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.
(You could be at "dash mid-range.")

If we could just slow down
enoughto 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's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...

would you be proud
of the things they say

about how you spent your dash?

by
Linda M. Ellis
(c) Copyright 1999