Good Morning Dear Friend,

Yesterday, in Social Studies Class, we were talking about the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament which happens every 2 years. This year it is being held in the United States near Chicago, IL. The tournament started yesterday and will run for 5 days, with the Ryder Cup trophy being awarded on Sunday.

As we were reading, we learned that the Ryder Cup Tournament was not held during WW II, from 1939-1945. When one of my students read this, she said, 1939 line 1945. I said, oh, we read that 1939 through 1945. The dash represents the time that the United States fought in World War II. The war began in 1939 and the war ended in 1949. Another student chimed in, Mrs. Keane, when dates are written that way it can also mean when a person was born and when a person dies. I agreed. I said, and what does the dash mean then?.... She said, it is how long they lived. I said yes, the dash represents the time that the person spent alive on earth.

And then as the bell rang I thought about the poem THE DASH! Are you familiar with the poem, by Linda Ellis? I love this poem.

The Dash

 

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of his friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

from the beginning....to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what matterend most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time

that she spent alive on earth.....
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own:
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard....
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
By~ Linda Ellis

And so my wish for you today, is that you contemplate this poem, The Dash! I hope that on this day you consider how you are living and if you are proud of the way you are living your Dash!

En `Joy,

~Marialyce