The Dash!!

Part of being a seasonal Park Ranger is meeting people, being a part of their lives for a brief moment or for a few weeks or months, and then "moving on."

With some people, that's OK---but with many others, it's a little sad, and sometimes it's very sad.

Full time RV'ers and seasonal Park Rangers are like nomads--- traveling around the country and through life and meeting others--- and in the end, all we can say is:

"Thank you for being a part of our lives,
and for letting us be a part of yours."

Before he left, Vance Brooks also read to all of us the following poem:

I’m Glad You’re In My Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
From the beginning....to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

(1934-1998)
That dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth....
And now only those who loved her,
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard....
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel
And be less quick to anger,
And who appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile....
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

If you have received this, it means that you
Are truly special to the one that sent this to you.

From my dash to yours.
Laugh long, live long.
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a GIFT....
That is why they call it the present.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

And leave the rest up to God.