Near Life Experience

Age is just a number they say. I’ve wondered for almost all of my 78 years who is they. Growing up in a small town, West Bridgewater, Massachusetts (361 Spring Street), the original they were my Mama and Papa, from which all I learned from earliest memory was all that was necessary. I learned I was loved and cared for and that my folks could not only provide sustenance, but manufacture others, like me, but a little different, sort of unique cut cookies from different seasons and different reasons. These were the ones chosen for me and the experience still grows.

I was sheltered from experiences deemed not suitable, by parental intervention, from cruelties we are now exposed to every day. They said don’t swear, smoke, or harm others and love your brothers and sisters. Generally, this got me through each day. Happy to bed and happy to rise each new day, believing what I wanted or needed would manifest itself naturally. In school, I had thought I would like to make a life as a high school teacher of English and to coach basketball, as it turns out my grades were not great and the game that I so loved found room for me only at the end of the bench. So, the experiences went forward, would I find a girl, kiss a girl, love a girl? What did manifest destiny really mean?

I have lived from that day to this and experiences have unfolded sometimes in the innocence of a first kiss, holding hands, falling in love, to quickly marrying and joining the cookie cutter union and the never ending still unfolding progression of four of my favorite cookies, who each have guaranteed generations of future cookies, the most recent great grandchildren Bennett Jenkins Jan. 21, 2025 and last August,24 Lainey Kate Robillard, sweet cookies born nearly 100 years after my folks arrived on the planet.

The days have passed and also the experiences, each a story, some bitter, but far sweeter but all necessary to weave together this life I live at the moment. I have had the honor of meeting new people, taking many as lifelong friends. Worth the experience for sure from my early days of elementary school to working as a furniture moving truck driver, sports coat and tie as a foodservice buyer, a bagger and cashier at Publix at Ft. Myers Beach, FL. ever increasing life’s experiences and friends and acquaintances too numerous to put down on this page but not to hold dearly in my heart. Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia on several different occasions and with each new job a new family. You know who you are, if you should ever stumble over and read this day’s musings. I have learned to love from the heart and by listening to what other hearts have to say and to stand by them, some even when they didn’t want the attention, lessons learned by experience.

Maine is home, on this day, sharing life and new experiences with my sisters, I watch way too much television and read less because of cataracts hopefully fixed this year (Experienced June 4th and June 19th this year). Life has been good and though many don’t share my belief in Jesus, I happily go to sleep each night happy to rise again in the morning or in His Holy presence, I’m good either way.

I wish I could write thank you notes to those who have served as acolytes keeping me upright when the world was trying to pull me into uncertain waters. By their actions I began a true understanding of faith of hope and love and that by shining the light on Jesus, we can lift others up to see His light.

It’s been a while since I’ve rambled as I once did on Facebook, but it feels good to be in touch with friends, and to share what I have with them. We’ve lost many the last few years but like with each of you they live on in our hearts and memories.

I guess you could say that I have had a “Near Life Experience” just sayin’ ..