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Slice of Life

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The Gift

Do you have a bucket list? You know, a list of things you want to do, places you want to go, people you want to see before your life ends. I think many of us have this type of list sitting somewhere on our brains. The list shrinks and grows and takes twists and turns, getting revised as we move along with our lives.

My husband and I share some common bucket list items and for sure some individual items. Travel and golf are two that we share. We want to head to many places we have seen by photo and read about (Ireland, Hawaii, New Zealand). We also want to play golf on some of the world's best golf courses. We are not great golfers with low handicaps. We just have appreciation for well designed courses. It does not matter what we shoot, we just love the challenge, beauty, and craftsmanship of course well planned.

The months of December and January were difficult for my husband. He had many job related challenges that felt unfair, insurmountable, and overwhelming. He muddled through doing his best to put on a happy face, meet the challenges head on, and he made some major decisions that were not easy. As a family we supported him, encouraged him, and cheered him on for his bravery. In the midst of this chaos, he received an email from our son and son-in-law. It was a welcome letter from Pebble Beach which informed him he was to have a night's stay, a car, and a round of golf on of the finest golf courses in the world.

My husband was speechless. I don't think he could understand immediately what had happened. Our children, grown men, had given him a gift on his bucket list. First there was disbelief, then concern they were spending too much money on him (he never thinks he is worthy of lavish gifts), and finally acceptance and gratitude.

Yesterday he played his round. He called to tell me, after the first nine, it was the hardest course he has ever played and he was loving every minute of it. His voice was light and cheery void of the pressures December and January had placed upon him. He sounded like himself again.

Thank you son and son-in-law. You have given your dad his inner child back. Playing at Pebble Beach is like a trip to Disney for a young child. You have reminded him that life is more than just work, it is about play as well. The joy of the game, the beauty of the surroundings, and the love of a family is making him whole again so he can move on. Thank you for giving him an item on his bucket list a little early.



3 comments:

  1. Beautiful story! Family who understands each other and looks for ways to bless each other! So happy your hubby got his joy back!

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  2. How wonderful - the place looks gorgeous!

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  3. What a wonderful story of giving - and giving back.

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