wish you were here

That's Beaver, Wally and Eddie Haskel, or at least the actors who played the parts on the old Leave It To Beaver show. Happy Halloween... if only they were in costume... for those of us growing up watching "the Beave" get in trouble, or his big brother Wally help him out of it, or Eddie "Haskel" Mrs. Cleaver, as Ward rolled his eyes, a photo like this is a serious gut check on our age. To those under 40, it was an old black and white tv show, your parents probably watched it, or reruns of it, and it carries almost no historical value... but it's a goldmine of nostalgia from a not too distant past, our past.

I've never liked Halloween much, like the candy... and since I don't eat that to excess any more - and if you're not going to eat it to excess, what's the point? - but I have lot's of fond memories of times together at Halloween with old friends, family and people who are either no longer a part of my life, or are dead. They've somehow slipped into the same slot in my brain that holds Leave It To Beaver, I Married Joan and All In The Family... but in my heart... something special still beats for each of them. This morning so many people and so many good times have gone through my mind.

Mom kept a "costume box" in my sister Kathleen's closet. It was strictly off limits, until after school on Halloween, when she'd get it down and the four of us kids would in a matter of minutes become: pirates, gypsies, indians, cowboys or whatever else our imaginations could pull out of those magic rags and jack-o-lantern glasses... good times togehter with Dad, Mom, Danny, Tim and Kathleen. We'd head out into the neighborhood with bags or pillowcases- definitely no adult chaperones... a different world... and walk, knock and trick or treat til we were beat. Friends would join us: Bobby, Susan, Mickey, David, Kim, Jane and so many others... we'd come home and dump the candy, cookies and popcorn balls into large bowls where mom would "sort" and inspect it, letting her sweet tooth be her guide. The candy seemed to last forever... the friends, like Beaver, Wally, Eddie... grew up, moved away and embraced the "necessary losses" that come with aging. Don't know what happened to the costume box.

Today my minds working in black and white- all reruns -and wishing you were here... so many old friends, so many good times, events and people that shaped me in ways I never noticed and definitely never aknowledged... I'd list you all... but I'd never be brave enough to be certain that each of you received it... but for today, the candle in this old jack-o-lantern shines for so many old friends who once meant the world to me. Thank you... "our lives have changed in so many ways..." part of you has stayed with me.

My brother-in-law, and good friend for the last 30 years, Gary, died last year. It was hard, could have used a hug from each of you. It was not a joyous time to be the preacher. I didn't want to bury him. Right before I stood to speak, his neices, two beautiful young women with amazing voices and incredible talent, stood, playing the acoustic guitar and sang for their uncle Gary- one of his favorite songs -"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. I was balling my eyes out in the background... thinking of so many memories this morning... the song came back to me... and I sort of wished mom could pull down the old costume box and we'd all be kids again for the day... but it's not what I want, not at all. However, as life, family and friends quickly slip away I find myself wishing, sometimes more often than not, that you were here to share the joy, adventure, sorrow and challenges of it all. Today, I'm thinking of you, in only good ways.

blessings,

Eric

Song of the Day - Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here - Listen in.
Click to hear music file