Everyday, I wake to find myself a day older and every year I awake to find myself a year older, but every time I awake I gain wisdom from logic. I don’t know why, but it helps me to not be afraid of the future and it prepares me for it.

My Dad, once told me, ” a wise man is an old man who has lived his life with many regrets, but wouldn’t change his past if he could and this reason is only because it shaped who he is today; clearly, a wise man.” When I read or even think of these words I believe they apply to my father and grandfather. They are men with many regrets, but without doubt they would never change what they have done or what they’d would do becuase it is who they are now.

I just hope one day I grow to be an old fool like’em, because an “old fool is a wise man.” My Grandfather once explained this to me. He also shared with me, “if when you die and others lose hope, then you lived a good life.” This one had taken me awhile to understand, but when my grandfather passed away a few months ago I understood a few months later.

What he meant was, when you die and if a family member or a friend can no longer go on without you, then you lived a good life where you truly mattered to someone. This is important to life. I understood a few month later because a dear friend to my grandfather, gave up hunting, wood cutting, meat grinding, and so much more that he enjoyed doing with my grandfather. Every now and then you’ll catch him talking to someone and when you ask him who he’s talking to, he then replies “I am talking to Butch Gesin.” (my grandfather)

I hope one day I grow to be old and wise, but wise with friends and family who’ll always remember me for being the wise old fool as I remember my grandfather.