Achievement

I found a copy of my husband's financial advisor license.  He worked so hard for it, but never even got a chance to display it in his new frame.  Becoming a financial advisor takes time.  You must pass rigourous test in order to received the professional disignation.  Many people take these test but few pass.  Some take the test over and over, never passing it.  My husband was one of the few who made it.  He was so proud.  He called me at work and said that he'd passed and now we were really going to hit the big time because he would be able to issue stocks/bonds/ retirement, etc.  He really wanted to help people to have a good life in thier retirement years.   It was a stellar moment for him.  For me it meant that I would  have him back.  No more hours of study after a long days work. I was so happy.  We even planned to take a vacation, our first in 8 years.   Everybody congratulated him and he was walking on cloud nine.
A week before he passed, he was looking for a frame for his new certificate.  He chosed a dark brown one and smiled when he showed it to me.  He never got to put the certificate into the frame.  Never got to help people.  So here I am packing and I have it.  It's a piece of paper worth nothing. 
I guess what I'm saying is that we have to enjoy the time we have together.  Yes, it's important to have degrees and certificates.  We need them to earn a certain wage and to live a certain way.  But it shouldn't come at the cost of spending time with your family and friends. 
In Europe, the retirement age is about 60.  They have  30 days paid vacation.  They're number one in vacation and the US is number one in heart disease.  I think this speaks volumes.