It’s amazing the things we don’t even realize we have until they are gone.
As vital and important as air is to my very existence, I don’t really “notice” it. Even being winded from a faster than average running pace, or a 90 second arm wrestling match (I believe it is actually 4 of 5, not 3 of 4, Dave), I don’t really think of my dependence on the air. When it is foul, I don’t tend to reminisce about time I enjoyed fresh air on the heights of Mt. Cammerer, deep in the Smokey Mountain National Forrest. To the very best of my recollection, the only time I really appreciated air was immediately following a near drowning experience. With head aching and lungs burning I gulped in a breath and it was the sweetest, most perfect moment I had ever experienced. In that moment, I truly “noticed” air. I really, really appreciated it for everything it means. For all of about 45 seconds . . .
How quickly we take so many things for granted.
Today is my wife’s birthday (I won’t mention age, since she is hypersensitive about being older than me). She’s out of town with my sister, and I miss her – for so many reasons that I usually don’t even think about. I’ve spent more than half my life with her.
Man, I really miss her.