08/17/08 - Today, our classmate Gary Merrell who now lives in Delaware, Ohio, sent me the following message and a recent article in which he wrote and published. His commentary brought tears to my eyes. His message will have special meaning for us, the Moore High School Class of 1967. So with his permission I have included it here . Thanks Gary for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Ronnie: As Publisher of The Delaware Gazette, located in Delaware, Ohio I authored the following commentary that ran one day during the week of August 11th on the editorial page of The Delaware Gazette. Thought you might enjoy. Share with our class at your discretion.
"Stop, and Smell the Roses by Gary Merrell"
Life is full of numbers that tell our life’s story, in my case some of the numbers are:
Graduation from High School…………
41 years ago
My Wife’s Anniversary……………….. 36 years ago (on 8/12)
Cathy I hope you are properly impressed
Children………………………………... 30, 25, 9 years old
Graduation from College……………… 37years ago
Draft Lottery Number …………………. 347 and 353
The Lottery Numbers for Me and My Best Friend
Our Decision to Move to Ohio from Oklahoma22 years ago
The Death of My Father………………… 12 years ago
The Birth of My Grandchildren………….9, 6 years old
Years in Delaware………………………. 1 year
My Age………………………………….. 59 years old
These numbers represent significant events in my life. Each of these events changed the course of my life and the lives of those who I have come in contact with; I hope for the most part for the better.
What is the point of all this? Each of you has numbers representing your lives as well. And one day the numbers cease growing, and the inevitable happens.
There is another number that illustrates this point. Moore High School’s (my high school) class of ’67 “In Memoriam” site currently shows the number of classmates who have passed to be 18, and certainly that number is understated as classmates have left Moore, Oklahoma and contact has been lost. And I have noticed recently additions are beginning to be made all too quickly as this number is growing.
The phrase has never held greater meaning for me than it does today, “stop and smell the roses.” With my “A” personality I have rushed all too quickly through life and many of the wonderful things that have come my way were never fully appreciated at the time, but each day they carry more meaning. I have been fortunate in many, many ways. My children; my wife; my extended family; my friends from Oklahoma City, Columbus, Athens, and now Delaware; and lastly the business associates who have contributed in so many ways have all made my life fuller and more complete.
I challenge each of you to do what I find myself doing more each day “stop and smell the roses” and recognize the importance of all those around you and how much they add to your life. My personal challenge and my challenge to you is to remember how fragile and fleeting life is and how life gives us few “do overs,” but it is never too late to say I am sorry, I love you, how can I help. One of my favorite movies is “Pay it Forward” and maybe that movie says it best.
So to my fellow classmates whose time have passed I say goodbye to Judy, and Judy, George, Danny, James, Susie, Ed, Curtis, Earl, Phil, Richard, Rocky, Tim, Wayne, Lonnie, Rhonda, Carolyn, Gary, and Keith. My hope is each of you had your opportunities to reflect and “smell the roses” and to my fellow living classmates, family, and friends I hope this reminds us all to stop each day, take a deep breath, close our eyes, and relish all that is important, truly important.
