Be Grateful for Each Day

This afternoon we again went to the clubhouse here at Escapees Rainbow Plantation for the 4 o’clock social hour.  The 4 o’clock social hour is a hallmark of the Escapee RV Club.  Every Escapee owned park all over the country has social hour at 4 o’clock every afternoon except on Sunday.  At least some of the parks, perhaps all, have a 6 PM ice cream social in lieu of the 4 o’clock hour on that day.  The structure of this meeting varies slightly from park to park, but basically it is a time when folks new to the park can introduce themselves, meet folks who have been there a while, find out about upcoming activities, both in the park and in the community, and such as that.  It is a time to meet other RVers.  While here, we have meet several people, some who will become lifetime friends, I’m sure.

Part of the regular routine at the social hour here is for people to introduce themselves and tell a little extra—where they are from, where they are going, how long they have been an escapee member or just anything they want to say.  I was deeply moved by the comments of one lady today.

She explained that she and her husband had just arrived today.  They had been to this park several years ago and were back here for a few days as part of what she called their “memory tour”.  They are visiting the places they had been to in the past because this may be their last trip.  She was not a young lady and, for whatever reason, her husband was not with her at the meeting.

Later, at home as I was eating dinner, this little lady came to mind again.  What a wonderful trip to go back to the favorite places you had visited during your travels.  Then again I thought of how sad that would be—to journey around the country knowing you may never be at these places again.

Each day we have, whether we travel, or work, or just do chores, is a blessing.  We so often hear of people who are struck suddenly with misfortune, illness, even death.  Since we can’t know what tomorrow may bring, it is not appropriate we live each day to the fullest and do our best to be a blessing to others.

This morning I got up complaining about the record cold temperatures here in the deep south.  Perhaps I would have been a better blessing to my husband and would have better served myself if I had instead rejoiced in the glorious sunrise.

I have another great social hour story for tomorrow and I promise—no more preaching.