Don't blink if you can.

In an average lifetime- say 75 years- we will blink over 657 million times. We blink about 25 times a minute and if you have a 16 hour day and you live a mere 75 years, you're looking at over 657 million. That's a lot of friggin' zero's. There is a reason behind this.

As I have gotten older, time seems to move much quicker. I don't know when this happened or why, but it does. I never understood adults saying, the time just flies by.

I get it now.

It will be seven years in October when we laid my grandpa Cooper to rest. It was almost four years ago when I didn't go to Boston to pay respects to my other grandfather. It seems like yesterday. I miss them like it was yesterday.

But we have to blink. It's a natural thing. We blink to keep our eyes from drying out. There are times when we cry and it seems as though we dry them out more because we do cry.

To be honest, I don't know what is really true there. I don't really care, either. But I do know when I cry, my eyes hurt and feel dry. And I blink- a lot.

I can't help but blink. There are times I don't want to because I'm afraid I'll miss something important. Like time with my grandmother. A woman I look proudly on and love dearly. I am through and through her granddaughter and I am most like her. And it's seen throughout the family.

She isn't doing well, she's starting to fade. She's 98, it's understandable.

It makes me sad.

But....

It's ok.

We'll be ok.

It will take time for the pain to go away.

But, you can go home now. Go be with your husband. The love of your life. The man you spend 73 years with. It's ok.

I'll be there this time. I'll be ok.

I'll make sure Jon Hansen takes care of you.

I'll miss you, but you can go.

I'll love you forever. I'm forever your granddaughter. I'll forever be like you.


Blinking. We have to do it. We have no choice in the matter.
Just like saying good-bye. Sometimes, we have no choice.