Waking Up On Memorial Day

I woke up this morning thinking about you but I just didn’t realize it.

My eyes opened and I began the usual involuntary inventory of what I might do today; the assorted plans I have, what I’m going to eat, the ordinary tasks before me; the family stuff and bills and dreams and the billion unrelated thoughts already ping-ponging around inside my head while it still rested on the pillow.

And almost in an instant I became fully aware that I woke up.

I realized that I am here in this bed; breathing, feeling, planning, and preparing to rise to walk into all of the waiting world.

And that’s when I thought of you.

I thought about this day and about how you’re missing it; about the other ones like it that you’ve missed before that I never considered.

I thought about how many of those days I took for granted or squandered complaining or worrying or missing what and…