‘Then It’s Winter,’ author unknown

I have a friend in South Carolina named H. B. “Bo” Faulkner. Bo is Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Medical University of South Carolina, and has been in this position for about 25 years.

Recently, Bo sent me an email entitled “Then It’s Winter.” Unfortunately, it’s not clear as to who wrote it. It was sent to Bo by J.B. Edwards, former Governor of South Carolina. Edwards did not write this, but regardless of who did, it’s very, very good. If I find out who did write it, I’ll give proper attribution. Here it is:

Then It’s Winter

You know … time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But, here it is … the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise … How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is … my friends are retired and getting gray … they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me … but, I see the great change … not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant … but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore … it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will … I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so … now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last … that when it’s over on this earth … it’s over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done … things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime. So, if you’re not in your winter yet … let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life … so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember … and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

$ Your kids are becoming you … but your grandchildren are perfect!

$ Going out is good … coming home is better!

$ You forget names … but it’s OK because other people forgot they even knew you!

$ You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything … especially golf.

$ The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore.

$ You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep.”

$ You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch.

$ You tend to use more four-letter words … “what?”…”when?”…???

$ Everybody whispers.

$ You have three sizes of clothes in your closet … two of which you will never wear.

$ But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old Movies, and best of all, Old Friends!

Some of you will read this and won’t understand. But many of you will and do. And, so it’s to you that do understand that now it’s winter that these wonderful words are dedicated.

Thanks Bo. And thanks to the one that wrote these true and poignant words.

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