The Secret to Life

The secret to life is of course unknown. There is a very good reason it isn't known.

Because there is no secret.

You are born, you learn to walk, you learn to run, go to school, go to work, then you die.

If  during some of those things you learn to laugh, you don't have a secret, just a better life. Laughing isn't hard for me. I really never saw the use of crying and in these hard economic times if you can't cry you must surely laugh. If you don't, you won't live a longer life, it will just seem like it.

I am not complaining. I have a good life. Has it been better other years? I am not sure. We have had more money and the ability to acquire more material possessions. Does that make it better?

A couple of years ago my wife was making three times the money she makes now. Were we happy? Yes we were but we also had worries. We had a son struggling to make up a year of school, he lost, when his school was blown away in hurricane Francis. At the same time our oldest was in the U.S. Marines. We were proud but also scared to answer the phone when he called. We were terrified he would be sent into combat.

Right now we may apprehensive about  phone calls because of over due bills but I'll take them all day instead of a call telling me my son is going to war.

Our second oldest made up his year of school and graduated on time. Our oldest served the U.S. Marines by defending Delaware. We are equally proud of both of them and their two youngest brothers. This year they all live at home. Some people may see that has a bad thing. Their mother and I are glad to have them close.

It is a lot easier to laugh when your children are home. The bills are piling up. Money is less plentiful then it has been in the past. Steak may be for dinner less frequently. T.J. is not getting shot. Christopher has a diploma. John will graduate this year. James piles up A's like firewood. Tonight they all will be safe and warm in their own beds.

It may not be a million dollars but it makes me laugh when I think of the alternatives.

My dearest friend in the whole world worries he doesn't have the money to pay his bills, past December. I luckily don't have that worry. I am absolutely certain we don't. In fact, after I pay the gas bill and the electric bill today, I am not sure we have the money to pay the phone bill. Should that make me worry?

Yes it should but I can't. If I start to worry about the phone bill, then next will be the mortgage and then the car payment and then worry will turn to tears and I have never saw the use in crying.

So this year we have less money but no less laughter.

It's not the secret to life but it makes years like this go by faster.