Life Just Happens

Why are things the way they are?  Why do the words of some songs really hit?  I’ve got to ask myself that as this morning the words “life was just happening” really resonated with me.
It made me think of primary school and the port on my back.  Milk at little lunch.  Square dancing and loving it.  Recommending someone eat a burger all around the edges saving the best bit to last.  Him getting knocked and dropping the burger after finishing the outsides.  He never ate that way again.  Our sports school (Lawson) being the worst.  My grade six teacher saying to my mum, “at least he is good at sport.”
And secondary school.  Mumps in the first weeks when friendships are forged.  My girlfriend dropping me.  Writing alliteration classics (to me anyway) in grade 9.  We had a choice.  I chose “Quickly, quickly, quickly.”   “Quickly, quickly quickly, the pig is out of the sty.  Farmer follows franticly but Porky pig is sly.  Through the gurgling gully, past the bushes beyond, racing recklessly onwards, straight into the pond.  Porky pig cannot swim, nor can farmer Fred.  A rider rescues both of them and sends them both to bed.”  Only knuckling down in grade 11.  Piano lessons.  Drugs.  Salvation. 
Going for jobs.  Getting an interview and being told I was the only one who could write but not getting the job as I did not have a driver’s licence.  Queensland Railways.  Boss who kept our empty biros in a safe and the only way to get a new one was to go to him with my empty one.  Trying to look cool hoping off my motorbike and it collapsing at my feet.  Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.  Going on a Surveillance flight as far as Lizard Island and overnighting in Cairns.  Brisbane and QUT.  Printing Services.  Loving the job and the people.  Staying there years and the job changing keeping it interesting.
Late marriage.  Tumour discovered. Operation and put out to pasture.  Keeping busy in retirement.
Where did the years go?  When I was younger it was like I had forever.  Now I know my days are numbered.  It all goes so quick.  Life is long but it is short.  Decisions made early need to be made with the end in mind.  It is too easy to drift.  I found that out.
Next year I will be able to sing “when I’m 64.”  Cause that is what I will be.  I have a feeling that at the end of my days I will appreciate how short life really is and how long eternity is (from what I know it is a really really long time).
They say better late than never.  I like that.  I need to make decisions with the end in mind.  To me that is safe.  Better late than never.  I would hate to guess wrong.