9862 Days

I was in elementary school in 1980.?

Jane wore different clothes.??

She had a blond streak in her hair.?

Jane was creative.? An artist.?

She was my first crush. ? I mean, the kind of crush that caused me to just stare at her.? She was not the most beautiful young girl (she was pretty) - but Jane had good energy. ? She radiated to me a level of positivity and sunshine that few people in my world did.??

Jane and I had art class with Mrs. Koening. ? We sat next to each other and drew crazy pictures.? Jane could draw faces, and real people up close, like no one I had ever met at 12 years old.??

I was drawing abstract art, sunsets, arrows, and combos of colors (that ironically I could not completely see as I am colorblind) - but, Jane drew images of real objects.??

She was a master.??

I never told her that I liked her.? I think she knew.?

When it was time to leave elementary school, and head to Junior High (7th - 9th grade) I did not see Jane as much, but we did cross paths a bit.???

My interest in Jane waned, but it never fully went away.?

One day before I left the school to head to prep school – ? we cut class at the end of the school year, and I had my first cigarette with Jane, sitting on a tree stump, listening to a boom box……

She wore a leather jacket with tassels at the bottom, and cool shoes. ? A memory.???

I left that school the following year and never saw Jane again.??

I looked on Facebook for Jane, (decades later) and all the normal places, years ago where I might locate her to “friend” her, , but I never found her to re-connect.? I’ve managed to re-connect with so many fellow travelers on this path through life (as you undoubtedly have) and incredibly so, a tremendous number of 100+ classmates from educational life, 50+ years ago – some of whom have enriched me…….and some who I never even went to school with, but we grew up in the same town.?

But no Jane.??

Jane died.???

I have no idea the circumstances, nor do I want to know.? I just know she passed away far too soon…..

If she were still alive, and if she was on social media, I’d be connected with her, and she would be reading this right now – about my childhood crush on her.??

She would smile.??

At least I hope she would smile.???

Life moves fast.??

I’ve learned to leave it all out there, in almost every way.?

28 years ago today, Lisa and I survived a suicide bombing in Jerusalem.???

Sept 4th 1997.?

We were saved by a wooden column next to our table.? The two bombers who targeted the restaurant we were in, wore bomb laden vests on their bodies.??

The vests were filled with nails, screws, and metal objects.?

When the bombs on their vests detonated, it projected all of these objects outward at the people like you and me —? and the wooden column that fell on top of us, caught all of those nails, and screws meant to penetrate our flesh.?

Ii missed us (because of our seats next to a piece of wood) - but, hit everyone around us, who were killed, eating their late lunch, at 3pm on a random Tuesday. ? Lisa and I were meant to be one of them.??

And, all the children sitting outside in front of the restaurant who were sitting at picnic tables, having just gotten out of school. ? One of the bombers detonated amongst them, killing many…..

I’m only alive due to a wooden column, in between my wife and I.? So is she.??

Our lives were forever changed, altered, and our paths became more clear.??

Make it count.??

You get one trip, one ride on the rollercoaster, and one ticket……

Speak up.??

Be brave.?

Do stuff.??

Push.??

I won’t be silent on my beliefs.??

I’ve offended a good many people with my views.? Do not care.?

I’ve loved a good many people and led them both personally and? professionally. ? I do care.??

I try my best to live a full life.? I do not know what that means (a “full life”) but, I do not want to have regrets, as I look backwards….

We all leave a trail on this journey.?

A footprint that time erases.???

I want my footprint in the proverbial sand to count for something.??

Jane Gallagher was an incredible artist at 12 years old.??

She made an impression on me that still stands 5+ decades later, even after her death……

Have an impact on someone not in your family,? I try to, and if I’ve failed, at least I will be able to say I made an effort.???

I will stand loudly and proudly for the aspects of life that are important to me.???

My family.? My country.? My religious beliefs.??

My morals.?

If I have offended you in the past, too bad.?

If you haven't been offended yet by me, stay tuned, it is coming.? :)??

I love this quote by Jerry Garcia, as I can relate to it:??

“We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.”

― Jerry Garcia

I’ve had a rebirth of sorts.??

I’ve existed 9862 days since Sept 4th 1997.?

I’ve LIVED 9862 days.? I mean I’ve really lived.? I’ve had good and bad days, but I’ve deeply and intuitively realized that everything is temporary…..including us. ? I view that knowledge and insight as a gift……

Trying to have as few regrets as possible.??

I’m sad Jane cannot read this post.??

I’m confident she would have smiled…..