The time seems right to put a few memories down in writing. Along my path, I have written over forty narratives, letters and memos to the guys, my three sons; of momentous occasions, memorable stories, investment plays, annual years in review, and of various events in my life. These are letters detailing my feelings for my sons, letters of my expectations for them, and what they meant to me.
I put them in the family safe deposit box, always feeling that one day one of my sons might want to read my thoughts of what was going on in my life, from my perspective at different points in time. I will include many of these writings along with other reflections of my life story.
As a young father, I worried that I might not have an adult relationship with my sons. I expect it is because my father died before I knew him as an adult. Not having an adult relationship with my father has been one of my life’s greatest disappointments.
Since I have lived a while now and have been fortunate to have a terrific adult friendship with my sons, I know that my sons know me quite well. They know how I think, and what I value. They have probably heard most of my family stories, as I have shared my feelings of life with them many times along the way.
So, it seems appropriate to put my writings to my sons in some organization so that my grand and great-grandchildren may have insight into who I am as a human being. At seventy-four years old now, in the last quarter of life, I clearly see the end in the distance. As I have become reflective, I am very thankful and very grateful for the life that I have enjoyed. To put it another way, I have had, “A Wonderful Life”.
I have without question, lived a dream life from any measure, from any perspective.
My dear mom, Lucile Smith Rowntree, lived to be ninety-six years old. She called her life in her last days charmed; a charmed life, a blessed life. I must second that motion.
My sons will be all smiles to see my reflections using the words, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” as we have watched that old movie from the 1940’s staring, Jimmy Stewart every Christmas Eve of my married life.
It’s a feel-good story of a man, a banker, struggling with daily problems and with life’s twists. He ultimately sees firsthand what the world would be like if he had not been born. We watch and cry at that movie every year; and that title should probably be on my epitaph, for I have lived the dream of a wonderful life in every way:
- The gift of loving parents was first.
- The miracle of being the baby of seven children born to protestant parents was fabulous and good fortune.
- Having four sisters and two brothers and raised in a home filled with chaos, noise, competition, and love was over the top cool.
- The blessing to marry the love of my life, Beverly, a blind date at college, was a life changer.
- Having three incredible sons, Christopher Paul, Michael David, and Matthew Scott has brought me immeasurable joy.
- Finally, finding my life work, as a banker, just by accident; work that has been fulfilling, rewarding, lucrative, and most important, it was work that brought value to people’s lives.
I have lived the dream life. It has been a wonderful trip. I will tell some personal stories about my youth, my siblings, my wife and children, and of my work years in order to give my grandchildren and great-grandchildren a flavor of who I am, and why I believe that I have lived the dream.
The occasion that spurred these reflections is a story worth recording: I had gone to my primary care doctor for a six-month checkup and review of blood work in the fall of 2013. I checked into the doctor’s office and was sent to a room. A young nurse came in smiling and began to ask questions about my medication renewals etc.
Finally, she leaned forward with hands together and said, “Mr. Rowntree, do you have any questions?”
I responded, “Yes, I have been taking a third of an Ambien for a sleep aid each evening this last year, and I have read that Ambien can be addictive. Is that true?”
The nurse, turns to my medical records, thumbing it back and forth heartily then turns to me and says, “Mr. Rowntree, you will be sixty-eight years old your next birthday,
“WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? YOU HAVE LIVED YOUR LIFE! TAKE ALL THE AMBIEN YOU WANT!”
In 67 years of living, I have never been totally speechless until that moment. After a few days of telling the story and laughing about this experience to family and friends, I did take note that time is getting by and that perhaps the timing is right to put some memories and reflections down for my great grandchildren to know who I was, what I valued, and some details of my glorious ride through life.
To my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I hope you enjoy these stories of my trip through life, and I want to share, “JUST ONE”, bit of wisdom about life for each of you to hold.
You will soon learn that “Today” is a great blessing and “Life” is short. My advice is simple; “NEVER WASTE A DAY BECAUSE OF A BAD MOOD.” You don’t have time to waste, for each day should be used to accomplish something, to help someone, to build a memory, to tell those that are dear to you, just how much you love them.
My hope is for each of you to have a long, happy, and fulfilling life and trust that one day in your future that you can announce to your grandchildren, that you have lived the dream life, a Wonderful Life. “I’m lucky, I have always been lucky!!!”
Lucky Number Seven