A few days ago, I was at work doing my usual routine. Counting and pouring prescriptions, helping customers, running reports, all the average day-to-day things I encounter at the pharmacy. I was rushing from one task to another hurrying along, staying as busy as possible wanting the day to be over. "I gotta finish up the Narcotic Log before I can go to lunch" I was thinking, when a shout from up front signaled me that a customer needed to be helped. I dropped what I was doing and walked quickly up to the rounded table where the register was. As I approached the register I saw that it was Mrs. Johnson, a well-known customer. I didn't even bother to ask "How can I help you?" I grabbed her sack and poured the contents out onto the table. "Hurry, Hurry, Hurry" was all I could think as I scanned the barcodes. Finishing, I smiled courteously and wished a good day. That's how my life has been for the last year. Same routine, same drill, same people. I've been wanting every day to be over right when it starts. Instead of working to live, I was living just to work. Payday would come and go, bills would be paid, and the whole cycle would start over again. I got so wound up during the workweek I didn't know what to do with myself on weekends! But on this particular day, something changed.After ringing up Mrs. Johnson I saw a big van pull into the parking lot. I younger woman got out of the driver seat and helped an elderly man out of the passenger side. They both came in to the store and when the older man got closer I noticed a large road rash on his cheek and nose, there was blood in his hands and tears coming down his face. I shouted for a pharmacist to come out and told the gentleman to sit down. I asked "What happened!?" Hot tears welled up and rolled down the blood soaked cheek, His voice croaked, and slurred words cried out "I fell down a-a-and n-n-none of the (Dr's) offices will help me." The pharmacist came up front and bandaged the man's hands and drove him to the hospital. Later I found out that 7 stitches were put in his left hand. I also heard that his wife had died several months earlier, and that his family left him to move east. My heart throbbed when I heard all this. I paused and took a moment to think of what I had. Sadly the only things that came to mind were my family and my jeep. I honestly couldn't think of anything else to be grateful for. Nothing seemed to come to mind! But with the work piling up I shrugged off the feeling and dived right back into my time-wasting routine.5 o'clock rolled around and I clocked out and zoomed home in the giant NASCAR van. I needed to get working on my jeep so that I can have it ready when Josh gets home. My mother wouldn't let me use our garage because the weather is getting so cold that she doesn't like to walk outside to her car. I figured I could go 
over and ask grandpa if I could use his shop. I've used it many times before, I knew he wouldn't have a problem with it. I threw on my jacket and hat and walked over to my grandparent's red brick house. My grandma was in the living room watching TV and smiled that familiar aged smile. I asked where grandpa was, she told me that he was in his bedroom watching "The Sound of Music" she said she couldn't sleep "he's got that thing blaring so loud you'd think we were having a concert in the bedroom!" I chuckled and walked around the corner to the bedroom. I knocked and entered to see my grandpa lying on the bed, remote in hand."Hello Ry!" He hollered over "Do-Re-Mi" He paused the tape and asked me what was up. I asked if I could use the shop AGAIN and he laughed. As he began to sit up, He groaned sharply from pain in his back. I hurried and reached out my arm to help him up. "Getting old isn't any fun Ry-guy" he sat up straight. "Judging from where you work you know what I mean." I looked at him kinda confused, and said "What do you mean?" grandpa's eyes were weighed to the floor. " My youth is long gone. I can't take 2 steps without pain. I can't hike to my favorite spot at the Graham Mountains. I took a lot of my time for granted." A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't bear to hear this. My grandpa is the most positive person I know. Always smiling, he had a joke or smart remark to everything you could think of. Now here he was depressed and out of place. I hated it. Grandpa looked up at me and said "Ry, time never misses a moment. If you want something, fight for it. If you want to go somewhere… Go. If you aren't happy, don't stop trying to be. If you let the important things go by, you'll regret as long as you live. You'll never get a minute back. Don't let the if's or but's take away your dreams. Dreams don't come true by wanting, they become real by doing" I blinked my eyes. I was taken back to earlier that day to that man who was crying. His true love was gone. Family abandoned. All the things he had, the important things, even his ability to take care of himself were gone. He didn't have any more time or health to fight or work for what he needed. A strong reality check hit me. I've been spending all my time earning a buck. What have I done for my long-term happiness? I haven't developed any close relationships. I
haven't gone on any adventures outdoors. Sadly I don't really know any of my siblings. I'm a LONG ways away from finding love. In short, Grandpa's words inspired me. Every morning since then I've taken a deep breath, smelled the air, just taking a moment to experience what was happening just that moment. I'm gonna start making some changes. I hope I can make others do the same. Fight for your dreams. Don't let anything stop you because you'll never get a minute back. Do it now, because time never misses a moment.
over and ask grandpa if I could use his shop. I've used it many times before, I knew he wouldn't have a problem with it. I threw on my jacket and hat and walked over to my grandparent's red brick house. My grandma was in the living room watching TV and smiled that familiar aged smile. I asked where grandpa was, she told me that he was in his bedroom watching "The Sound of Music" she said she couldn't sleep "he's got that thing blaring so loud you'd think we were having a concert in the bedroom!" I chuckled and walked around the corner to the bedroom. I knocked and entered to see my grandpa lying on the bed, remote in hand."Hello Ry!" He hollered over "Do-Re-Mi" He paused the tape and asked me what was up. I asked if I could use the shop AGAIN and he laughed. As he began to sit up, He groaned sharply from pain in his back. I hurried and reached out my arm to help him up. "Getting old isn't any fun Ry-guy" he sat up straight. "Judging from where you work you know what I mean." I looked at him kinda confused, and said "What do you mean?" grandpa's eyes were weighed to the floor. " My youth is long gone. I can't take 2 steps without pain. I can't hike to my favorite spot at the Graham Mountains. I took a lot of my time for granted." A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't bear to hear this. My grandpa is the most positive person I know. Always smiling, he had a joke or smart remark to everything you could think of. Now here he was depressed and out of place. I hated it. Grandpa looked up at me and said "Ry, time never misses a moment. If you want something, fight for it. If you want to go somewhere… Go. If you aren't happy, don't stop trying to be. If you let the important things go by, you'll regret as long as you live. You'll never get a minute back. Don't let the if's or but's take away your dreams. Dreams don't come true by wanting, they become real by doing" I blinked my eyes. I was taken back to earlier that day to that man who was crying. His true love was gone. Family abandoned. All the things he had, the important things, even his ability to take care of himself were gone. He didn't have any more time or health to fight or work for what he needed. A strong reality check hit me. I've been spending all my time earning a buck. What have I done for my long-term happiness? I haven't developed any close relationships. I
haven't gone on any adventures outdoors. Sadly I don't really know any of my siblings. I'm a LONG ways away from finding love. In short, Grandpa's words inspired me. Every morning since then I've taken a deep breath, smelled the air, just taking a moment to experience what was happening just that moment. I'm gonna start making some changes. I hope I can make others do the same. Fight for your dreams. Don't let anything stop you because you'll never get a minute back. Do it now, because time never misses a moment.
