He’s fascinated by the watch. In and out of the pocket it goes. Open-and-shut. “What time is it?” he wants to know. He’s waiting for the train . . . and for the adventure to begin.

And me? Well, I’m looking at the pocket watch cupped in his tiny hands., The station is filling up with his crazy joy, and in the blink of an eye, I’m flooded with a profound sense of loss.

And I’m Choking on Bittersweet

In the middle of his “greatest adventure ever,” I’m pushing back tears, choking on bittersweet, wondering how it’s possible to feel such joy and such loss all at once.?

For crying out loud, Joan, I think to myself, – it’s just a pocket watch. But it’s not really. It’s time that he’s holding in his tiny hands, that’s rushing through his little fingers. I can hardly breathe. There’s an ache in my heart that’s come out of nowhere. All of a sudden, I’m missing so badly the people I have loved, whose time has come and gone whom I will never hold again this side of heaven.

I Want to Hold on Tightly and Never Let Go

And I want to hold the my Grand Baby Boy forever, because I am keenly aware that it all goes by too fast. And I want to kiss my son who’s all grown up and tell him once again, “I love you, sweet boy! Of all the sons that were ever born…, I’m glad you’re mine.” I want to give a Mama Bear Hug to that daughter of mine, the mama of my Grand Baby Boy, and whisper in her ear, “You are braver than I will ever be . . . and oh, how much I love you!” I want to wrap my arms around that white-headed man I love so much and tell him, “Let’s do it all again!”

Because It All Goes by Too Fast

And gosh, I want that pocket watch moment for you, too! Don’t worry about looking the fool, wherever it happens. Let that pocket watch moment shake you to the core. Then run and don’t waste any time! Go love the people who rock your world . . .  because it all goes by too fast.

Conversations, Meaningful Moments, Love Deeply, Hug More, Don’t Waste Time