In the blink of an eye, it’s Thursday. Always a bit amazed by the rapid passage of time. And how busy the days can seem in retirement. Days slip by in a blur of appointments and volunteer commitments and errands and dog walks. I’m well aware that these simple things are a luxury that not everyone enjoys. We’re the fortunate ones who are able to make choices about how to spend our time.

Of course, even with essentially good health, there are more doctor’s appointments. I wondered how I once fit in a 10 A.M. appointment when I was working. Then it occurred to me that I would schedule my yearly GYN appointment in the summer. I don’t think that I had an Internist until I was 50. No one was sending me for blood work, or concerned about my blood pressure. Funny, how I once took good health for granted.

Thinking about this this morning because I heard yesterday that my cousin, Tom, had died of a sudden heart attack. He was a couple of years older than me, and not in good health, but his death was unexpected.

Tom lived in Kansas City, and I hadn’t seen him in twenty years. My memories of him are of a much younger man. We were close as youngsters growing up. I remember him as a sensitive, kind man, and I’m sad that in the rapid rhythm of life, we had lost contact with one another. I’ll always think of him as an artist, even though that was not his actual profession. He was immensely talented.

This artistic streak runs in our family. Talented artists seem to pop up in each generation. It certainly skipped me, but I think it has landed in my granddaughter. Betsy sent me a picture of Lauren’s latest creation shortly after I heard of Tom’s death.

When I looked at the picture, it hit me that the talent had settled in the next generation. Tom would have liked that.