I have given a great deal of thought to my entire life in recent months
and I have thought of all the situations to which I have been exposed,
circumstances I have experienced and places where I never thought
I would be. I have thought about how much everything changed in my
life over ten year intervals. .

I remember when I was 10. My family drove from Texas to Camp Pendleton near San Diego. An older brother ( a Marine ) was leaving for Korea. I didnt understand my Mothers tears at the time. On the way back to Texas, we stopped at the Grand Canyon. I had seen some colored photos in the New Britannica World Books on which my Mother was scraping together nickels and dimes to make monthly payments. She wanted her sons to learn about the world. I inherited an old yellowed black and white photo of me at 10 years old standing at a rail looking at the Grand Canyon. I still remember It was so wondrous as I gazed out over the unlimited natural beauty before me. I was in a place I never thought I would be.

I remember when I was 20. My family couldnt afford college and my two Jobs didnt produce enough income for college to keep me out of the draft. The Vietnam War was quickly ramping up and the military sent an invitation to me. I later learned later that my Mother had again shed tears over one of her boys. I remember when I was 20
and I was standing in a clearing and I was armed to the teeth with explosions and mass confusion and soldiers of all types all around
me. I was indeed in a place I never thought I would be.

I remember when I was 30. I was on my first international business
trip and went to London. I decided to visit Buckingham Place to
watch the Changing of the Guard. It was Queen Elizabeths birthday and she made a surprise appearance in a white carriage. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Seeing that before me I knew I was in
a place I never thought I would be.

I remember when I was 40, My first marriage had ended in divorce
and I really thought at that point I would probably remain a bachelor
for the rest of my life. I visited a restaurant I Houston and sat at the
bar and saw an amazingly beautiful young woman as the hostess at the front door. I returned the next night and she came up and spoke
to me and I was instantly and magically head over heels in love
despite our 16 year age difference. She eventually became my
wife. I was again in a place I never thought I would be.

I remember when I was 50. My wife accompanied me on a business
trip to New York. We celebrated her birthday with dinner in the
Windows on the World restaurant atop the North Tower ( 107th floor ) of the World Trade Center. We sat at a table next to the
windows and there were two tall white candles on the table. I
still remember the flickering candlelight producing sparkles in her
eyes as we sat and looked out over the majestic beauty of
Manhattan. I remember feeling so fortunate as I was sitting with
my beautiful wife with whom I was deeply in love. I had the feeling
I was truly on top of the world at 107 stories above the streets of
the city and sitting with the woman of my dreams. There is no
doubt I found myself in a place I never thought I would be.

I remember when I was 60. My wife accompanied on a business
trip to Milan and I extended the trip to visit Rome as a surprise for
her. I took her to the Vatican to visit St. Peters Basilica. That was
truly a dream come true for her as she as a Catholic ( I am not )
and she never imagined she would visit the Vatican. She was
shocked and amazed as Pope Benedict made an appearance
and blessed us. I was again in a place I never thought I would be.

Now I am 70. I am sitting in my office at work. My plans of last year
to retire have been cancelled as my reason to retire is gone. I sit
with my heart broken into an uncountable number of pieces as I carefully comb through the very delicate and oh so beautiful
memories of years past with her. Today is exactly 34 weeks / 8 months since she left. Again, I find myself in a place I never
thought I would be.

Blessings to all

Darrell in Texas.