This post title gave me a smirk so I stayed with it. GMD, 3:27. Could be an abbreviated reference to chapter and verse of some book in the Bible or other sacred text. Not so much the case.

GMD might also be G.M.D., my maternal grandfather’s initials. And the 3:27 is actually the month and day of his birthday. 1914, I think was the year.

He died almost twenty (!) years ago, at the age of 85. Not a bad life. Actually, a pretty great life, when I think back to it, as much as I know. I spent a lot of time with him and grandma as a kid with our family, and was lucky live close to him in the last ten years of his life.

I could list off the many things he did with his 85 years as an educator, administrator, rancher, hunter; and then from all those experiences what lessons he learned, struggles, wins, joys.

Rather this time around, I have a fundamental thought that seems to resonate most for me in this moment:

How did he live each day?

How did he prioritize?

How did he stay focused and maintain his best practices?

I don’t have ready answers for any of that, but as I continue through my last year in my fifties, I want to draw wisdom and strength from my grandpa’s life, opine in the mind, and be better each day,

Better each day,

Make it better each day and thus call it,

GOOD.

GMD. Happy (Heavenly) Birthday, Grandpa ~~~