It Was Twenty Year Ago Today

Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today…

The first time it was “twenty years ago today” was in 1967 when John, Paul, George, and Ringo released their eighth studio album as The Beatles. The title track is one that almost any true music fan knows by heart.

“It was twenty years ago today, Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play,
They’ve been going in and out of style,
But they’re guaranteed to raise the smile,
So may I introduce to you,
The act you’ve known for all these years,
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

Are you tapping your toes and singing along in your heads to this classic Beatles song with the catchy melody? It was a generational shift when the “lovely lads from Liverpool” went away and recreated themselves as a psychedelic new version of themselves. It’s an album with lots of memorable songs such as “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” and “A Day in the Life.” But I digress…

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today…

The second time “it was twenty ago today” was literally twenty years ago today. February 17th, 2000. It was a Thursday.

It was the day my father died.

There are days when it feels like it’s been longer and then there are times when I can shut my eyes and think he’s in the room with me. I’ll sometimes think I hear his voice or his laugh and can truly feel his presence. For me, he is synonymous with (The) Ohio State University where he proudly taught Landscape Architecture for 29 years. I know there are times when I’ve said or done something as a parent to my children that I know my Dad said or did to me, and magically that parenting tip, trick, or technique was passed on to me. We haven’t talked about it, but I’m guessing my two brothers would say the same thing. It’s an unofficial mentorship that I love experiencing and wonder if Riley and Ryan and my five nephews will feel the same with their children about us.

It was also twenty years ago today that my Mom lost her husband of nearly 38 years and over these last two decades since that cold winter day that we drove home from the hospital, I’ve seen her be such a strong woman, a generous Nana, and an active member of her church and community. She makes her daily Starbucks runs, hits the gym a few days a week, and keeps up on the latest books and movies. She still makes her summer trips out to Montana to live in the second home that she and Dad purchased to enjoy some of their retirement in God’s Country. I know she enjoys looking out on the mountains, the “big sky” of Northwest Montana, and watching the full moon pass overhead knowing that Dad is probably looking down on the same sights.

Dad never got to experience some of the amazing “generational shifts” that have occurred since he left us; the mobile generation, iPads, DVR’s, and streaming video. He missed 6 more grandchildren being born, a new Architecture building being built on campus, and his beloved Buckeyes winning two National Championships.

I try to keep my Monday Morning Matches positive, uplifting, or inspirational and maybe this one isn’t. Or maybe, if you have one or both parents still living, you’ll realize how awesome that is. If they’re nearby, do me…no wait, do yourself a favor and stop over and visit. If they aren’t, give them a call and tell them you love them. If only one of your parents is alive, it’s even more important you do what I suggest.

If you’re a parent, hug your kids and tell them you love them. Brothers? Sisters? Aunts and Uncles? What’s stopping you from making that call, sending that text or email, or showing up and embracing them in a hug? Friends, co-workers, customers, and clients? Okay, maybe you don’t love them, but you can at least make a little extra effort to build relationships, solve problems, and have fun.

Do it now because before you know it, you’ll look at the calendar and say to yourself, “Wow! It was twenty years ago today.”