Dash on the Tombstone

“There’ll be two dates on your tombstone,

and all your friends will read ‘em.

But all that’s gonna matter is …

that little dash between ‘em.” 

A few years ago, I stood at my father’s grave for the first time.  There, engraved in stone was: “G. VIRGIL VAIL – July 25, 1891 (dash) December 6, 1942”, the dates of my father’s birth and death.  According to those dates, my father was 51 years old when he died.  That short dash represents 51 years of my father’s life. 

Everyone reading this already has the date of their birth.  We are all now working on the “dash”.  

Think about some of the greatest blessings you currently have in your life. 

Your home 

Your peace of mind 

Your health 

Sharing a porch swing on a summer evening with your grandma 

Sitting at the Thanksgiving table or near a Christmas tree 

Tears in your eyes during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” 

You have hands, feet, eyes and ears. 
You know how to read and write.   
You live in America.   
You are relatively sane. 

Exactly how are you measuring your life? 

How is your “dash” doing?

Only picture I have of him (and my brother)