Memento Mori,one certain truth in life

Good morning journal,the time is now 9:25am,and I have been awake fully since 7:30am when my wife heard the telephone ringing,I of course didn't because until I put my ears in I'm deaf,but I still woke up when she got out of bed.Since then,I have been reading various posts on the DS site,it has occurred to me lately that I have gained so much support and love from my friends here,that it would be good to try and give something back rather than just journal on a regular basis.Last evening,I retired to bed at around 8:00pm tired and achy,I slept until 2:45am when our dogs let me know that they needed to go outside.They also got me up again at 3:30am,but after they had gone a second time,they finally slept beside my wife and myself until the telephone ringing set them off barking to let us know that something was happening in our home that we weren't directly responsible for.This morning,I feel slightly tired but the stiffness in my muscles that was very much in evidence yesterday has subsided somewhat which I am very grateful for.Being in something of a philosophical mood today,as I sometimes am,I am reminded of the Latin phrase"Memento Mori",it literally means"remember that you will die",and,as Mark Twain once famously quoted,death and taxes are the two certainties in life we all must face.Realizing as you get older that you are indeed mortal,which is something you never think about when you are young,one tends to become more aware that the sand in one's particular hour glass of life will indeed run out someday,that is the day when the power of individual choice is at last taken from us.Now,I don't know about anyone else,but in my case,the simple realization that death will come no matter what,is a sobering and inescapable fact of life,and it stops me in my tracks sometimes and forces me to look at the way I conduct myself and the way I live my life,how I treat other people etc:. It also makes me relive my past in a way,and I am reminded of the many mistakes I have made,the people I have hurt,intentionally or otherwise,and it gives me the opportunity to try and be a better person today,not to try and make up for past misdemeanors but because of them,I believe that the mistakes we make in life can only serve a purpose if we learn from them,for if we don't then we are destined to repeat them.The illness from which I suffer from today sometimes means that I do not conduct myself in the manner in which I would choose to,there are times when my tongue is sharper than I would wish it to be,and,there are occasions when I do not remember what I've done or said,but it is important that when these memory gaps or sharpness of tongue are pointed out to me that I accept responsibility for my actions and apologize,for if I don't then I am not only condoning my actions,I am justifying them as well.My wife has the right to expect the same level of respect from me as I expect from her,she has earned that right,and if I love her as much as I say I do,which I do,then she has the right to be told"I love you",which I sometimes sadly neglect to tell her.Although people know that you love them,it is still very pleasing,and eases any feelings of insecurity,when the person they love actually tells them,"hey,I adore you and I'm so very glad your here". Today,first and foremost on my list of things to do is to tell my wife how much I love her,and to apologize for the many times I have taken her for granted,will it make up for the times that I forgot?,no,but it will at least let her know that today I remember and am grateful for all the times when she has been there for me in my darkest times,I love you my wife,thank you for being exactly who you are.Until next time journal,peace and the love of God go with us.