Lifes Big Experiences

We were sat listening to a Counting Crows CD, in the kitchen as I was cooking meatballs and a tomato sauced to pour over some pasta. A song called 'Have You Seen Me Lately'came on. The song is about finding fame, and coping with the changes, but can be related to 'normal life' too.

Basically, as you go through life, you build up lots of big and small experiences. Working in the travel business, I've been fortunate to see some of the worlds most outstanding areas of natural beauty like the Grand Canyon, Nepal as well as the UK and Europe. Conversely, I've also been to man made structures and cities like Hong Kong and New York, Eiffel Tower, the Colloseum in Rome, which, in different ways, are also impressive.
We've also had a child, which is obviously the biggest experience, yet also the most simple. In effect all you do is plant a seed, let it grow for a bit, then bring it into the world, though this is all done because of the love and respect you have for each other. Almost anyone can do it, whether you are a genius or an idiot.
Some people let the big experiences take over their lives, forgetting that the most enjoyment can be had from the simple things. The guy in the song mentions travelling the world (in effect, his work) and singing in front of hundreds of thousands of people, yet misses watching his loved one breathe in and out as they sleep. Just as he launches into a song, it will start raining somewhere, for someone. (Though, as Bruce Springsteen sings 'I work down at the car wash, all it ever does is rain').
So what's the biggest and smallest of lifes experiences? Watching Mia complete a jigsaw puzzle that she has been trying to do for days, the look on her face as she gets that final piece in place and realises she has completed the challenge? Watching your football team win the European Cup? Sat in a bar in Spain watching the news channel and seeing two planes fly into New York's skyline, knowing you have friends there?

Interesting conversation followed as we talked about our big and small experiences. We are very lucky in many ways, our biggest and smallest experiences have come together, yet we still have many individually, which has made for a pretty rounded relationship.
Worth remembering that many of them cannot be bought and sold, for any price.

Obviously, the conversation was brought on by what we faced this morning, and we were both very happy to learn that the lump was a cyst, and that within a few hours, it was drained and Cathy was given the all clear. Not a very nice procedure, but better than some of the alternatives. The staff at the hospital were excellent and processed all the mamograms and ultra sound with the minimum of fuss. The time it was all done in was also fantatsic and we were back home in half a day. NHS do get somethings right.

So, hopefully, it will all be back to some form of normality from now on.

Maybe I'll even start seeing KK win? You never know......

(PS -thanks for the comments and well-wishes, both in the comments box, by Email and by phone - it is very comforting to know you are surrounded by people who genuinely care, no matter how they know you.)