I had some experiences the last few days that caused me to pause and reflect and really look inward, and I thought I would share some things with all of you. Christmas Eve I took the kids out for a drive and found us in quite a predicament with snow, cold temperatures, an empty gas tank and steep dangerous roads. To tell a very long story quickly, we wee very blessed and very grateful to return home safely. Next

Ty and I were making a return trip from Vegas on the worst roads I had seen in years driving carefully, when in an instant the truck was sideways and we found ourselves off in the ditch less than an inch from a rock wall, again very blessed and very grateful. This morning on my way to work I was at intersection on a motorcycle when ten feet from me a dodge truck failed to yield making  a left hand turn and slammed into a Geo metro. I was so close glass and antifreeze hit me. I dropped the bike and ran over having been trained in first aid etc. my whole life, and found 35 year old “Jaime” with the car folded all around her and 9 year old “Taylor” scared and hurt in the back seat. I checked Jaime’s vitals at the same time as giving Taylor a once over and had Taylor remove her seatbelt that was making it hard to breathe, and tried to calm and distract her as I held her mothers hand reassured her and  watched her die. I helped the paramedics get Taylor out with the jaws of life, and then she was rushed off to the hospital, our statements were taken and I went back to work. All day it bothered me and all day I made phone calls trying to find Taylor and how she was doing. I finally found her, and talked with her grandmother who let me know Taylor had lost her dad 2 years ago. Needless to say I have been devastated and filled with compassion trying to understand life etc. As tragic as this has all been I came away with some powerful lessons. I was thinking of an economy car with rising gas prices, but forget it, it’s worth the extra fuel to have the extra safety. Neither driver had paid any attention, there were no brakes, no turning to avoid collision, they were both distracted. Things can absolutely change in an instant, in that moment and when Ty and I were spinning off the freeway, all the worries and cares of the moments before are gone, all your debts and assets no longer matter, you realize in an instant what things are important to you, what has real value. You have time afterwards to reflect on how you have been living, do you share love and happiness, do you have a good relationship with God? Naturally you resolve to live better, laugh more, love much etc. and then you become numb to those feelings and go back to your former ways. I have reflected a lot today on all I have to be grateful for, how much I love my family and friends, and how I need to refocus my own life so I am not filed with regret in moments like these. I realized how much compassion for others I truly have and I sincerely hope all of you have a safe, prosperous new year surrounded by those you love and those who love you back, I hope you share what you can with others, help where you can, and accept help from those who might be able to help you. I hope you pursue things that have lasting value and bring happiness and satisfaction instead of gratification. I hope you set and achieve goals, share your talents and express gratitude. Every one in this world needs a thank you now and again. I hope you forgive quickly, and apologize quickly, I hope we all can be more doglike and love unconditionally. I hope we can change someone’s life for the better and I hope someone can touch us and move us to do better. I hope we are all surrounded by wet nosed four legged friends that do forgive us quickly, love us no matter what and understand when we just need a hug. I hope you all tell your families how much they mean to you, and how you really don’t want to lose them in an instant, and I hope we all drive more responsibly. The extra minutes we can save by driving a little faster, making the next light etc will never be worth the risk to ourselves and others. I hope we allow others to merge and don’t feel put out, and I hope when we have to leave this world we are surrounded by those who love us. Happy New Year to all my friends and family, I am grateful for all you have done and continue to do or me. I am grateful for all the new friends I have met through these wonderful dogs, and I hope you don’t feel just like another name on my e-mail list.

Stephen Parsons

Family Dobes

Quality Dobermans for 17 years

801-870-3777

http://www.familydobes.com