Terry Lee Lester Towne Oct 23/ 1944 – January 13/2026

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It is always interesting to learn new things about old people😊. I knew where my brother lived when he was small, but I did not know he was born just around the corner from where my daughter  (Autumn lived.) In fact he took his first breathe on this earth about one block from where Autumn breathed her last.

Terry was born just south of Baraboo Bluffs and minus his time in the military, he lived his life within 60 miles of that spot.

He served in the US Army 66 -68. He spent one year of that time in Viet Nam. As a 22 year old he spent 27 days of his tour duty missing in action after a helicopter crash behind enemy lines. Two others died on impact and one several ours later. Thus leaving him totally alone.

Us older kids all knew something had happened or was happening but not a word was spoken about it. I guess that was what our parents thought was best at the time.

I spent about 3 hours with him last month, during which time he wept and told me about those days alone and afraid. Having a husband that also served in that war I seemed to be a safe place to weep and talk. His tears are now dry and his v0ice is silent. I feel blessed to have given him that window to both speak and to weep.

Due to the extremely cold weather I chose not to make the 2 1/2 hr. drive to his celebration service. There were several videos taken, so I have been able to listen to the service.

Life is full of goodbyes. We say goodbye to things, people, abilities. As I began to down size about 10 months ago. I found myself say good by to stuff I didn’t need, or hadn’t used in quite sometime. I had to fit all my things from a 2 bedroom to another 2 bedroom with pretty close to the same square footage, minus the FULL BASEMENT.

Now I sit here these months later attempting to find spaces for the things belong to all the littles in my life. Ranging from 6 1/2 yrs to 6 1/2 months. Though only 1 of the 6 live here they all have stuff here. Just that extra set of clothing. There own writing pad, coloring books etc. Mostly likely a year from now I will be here alone again and downsizing/resizing will happen again.

Our lives are forever changing. People and things come and go. Desires change, physical abilities change. (Or at least the desire as to where/what you will spend your energies on changes. I think we are wise to understand that, and not to take it on as a negative of life.

We can’t go back and climb to our favorite tree, or be the star of the 8th grade volley ball team. Turn back the clock on the age of our own littles. Other people are enjoying our branches, and collecting the ribbons and trophies. Our children have also changed. They now proudly wear the (I love being a Grandparent T Shirts).

Life is made up of days, months and years, but mostly of moments. I don’t want to spend my life thinking of , or regretting what I didn’t have, or didn’t do. Let’s instead take time to cherish moments. Those are what life is truly made of. It is great to have dreams, and goals. Work hard and be your best you, but not at the cost of THE MOMENTS!.

I read a thing the other day that said Our PHONES have replaced our computers,, our calendars, our cameras, our mail box , etc. Let’s not let them replace our families….OUR MOMENTS!!

I could have found something else to do instead of spending 3 hrs with my brother, and believe me too many times I have allowed schedules to replace my people and my moments.

But I’ll never watch as a tear rolled down his cheek. Or hear another of his smart remarks or hear another goodby or I love you.

We have ALL..already missed to many.

We all Have twenty-four hours in our days, seven days in our weeks, 52 weeks in our year. God has given each of us a dash between the dates on our head stones. What we do with it is ours. We each have 60 seconds in each minutes…

We each make our calendars…..Slowing don’t our times …..Moment take time!!!!!!! I have said and heard it said…my time is precious….Remember Not as Precious as Moments. We all have said and heard it said that we SPENT X number of hours doing this or that…Do we really understand the truth of that statement. YES! We spent it, and we are not getting it back.

Make space for MOMENTS!

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Lord you have given me every breath! You don’t owe me more. You have given me this day, you don’t owe me tomorrow. You have given me every single heart beat. You owe me no more. You have made space for MOMENTS!! Thank You! You owe me no more.!!

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Blessings! Thanks for Reading!