The Dash by Linda Ellis
I read of a man that stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from beginning to end.
He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that he spent on Earth and now only those that loved him 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 that 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 may only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say? Of how you spent your dash.
Added by Laura Greer
Friday, August 22, 2008
One of Doyle's childhood stories:
“It was an exceptionally dark night and we had crossed the creek 3 or 4 miles from our house. We had a flash light which we used to find our way and locate the eyes of game in the trees. After a short time we saw the eyes of some animal located high in the top of a large tree. We believed it to be something whose hide we could sell. After one shot we knew from the odor that it was a civet cat. The hide was not particularly valuable, but would be worth something. The first shot apparently hit the animal but it hung in a fork of the tree. We tried a few more times to knock it out of the tree, but was unable to do so. Then, as we stood under the tree discussing the situation, we heard the most blood curdling scram I had ever heard. We had heard the older men talk about the black panthers that used to roam up and down the this creek. There was no doubt in our minds about this being just that, and that were infringing on his domain. We were also of one accord as to what our course of action would be. In fact, I don’t remember any discussion. I was jut trying to stay up with, who (on this night) were the fastest sprinters in Burnet County. Now I know that most people believe only one man every walked on water. They just don’t know about four young boys, who on a dark winter night crossed the North Gabriel without getting their feet wet.“
“It was an exceptionally dark night and we had crossed the creek 3 or 4 miles from our house. We had a flash light which we used to find our way and locate the eyes of game in the trees. After a short time we saw the eyes of some animal located high in the top of a large tree. We believed it to be something whose hide we could sell. After one shot we knew from the odor that it was a civet cat. The hide was not particularly valuable, but would be worth something. The first shot apparently hit the animal but it hung in a fork of the tree. We tried a few more times to knock it out of the tree, but was unable to do so. Then, as we stood under the tree discussing the situation, we heard the most blood curdling scram I had ever heard. We had heard the older men talk about the black panthers that used to roam up and down the this creek. There was no doubt in our minds about this being just that, and that were infringing on his domain. We were also of one accord as to what our course of action would be. In fact, I don’t remember any discussion. I was jut trying to stay up with, who (on this night) were the fastest sprinters in Burnet County. Now I know that most people believe only one man every walked on water. They just don’t know about four young boys, who on a dark winter night crossed the North Gabriel without getting their feet wet.“
As the Greer family assembled together to reminisce about Doyle Greer many fond memories came to mind. Doyle was a compassionate and proud man. Born on a farm in Mahomet, Texas he grew up milking cows, sloppin’ the hogs, and picking cotton in fields. However, his success in life was foretold early on when he won a baby beauty contest.
He was a great story teller and loved to recall the days of his youth when he and his brothers and sisters swam in the creek and ran around the countryside. He also told of catching catfish bare-handed in the rocks of San Gabriel creek.
He served in the US Navy and almost starved to death on Guam. According to him, the Navy food never made it that far west and they had to live off Spam for quite a while. When he got out of the Navy, he married his country sweetheart. His “Joppa Gal” as he lovingly referred to Ruth, was his loyal and dedicated wife for nearly 61 years.
Doyle loved to watch sports, especially baseball and golf. He was an avid Astro fan for 44 years. Doyle founded and was President of Northeast Little League in San Antonio to help area youth and afford his sons, Keith and Gary, the opportunity to play ball. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf. He caught the biggest bass of his life on Keith’s 21st birthday and declared, “Happy Birthday!”. Just a couple of years ago he was very pleased when he managed to shoot his age in a golf game.
Doyle was a committed follower of Christ and chartered both Northeast Baptist Church in San Antonio as well as our very own Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Spring, Tx. He attended church every Sunday and enjoyed Sunday school socials where he played dominoes. He even helped Mark Wilson to obtain his Master’s in Forty-Two.
In retirement, he was involved in a fiction or non-fiction book almost constantly and worked the crossword in the paper every day. Although he never completed a degree of higher learning, he was a very intelligent and educated man. He was well respected in his professional life among his FAA colleagues. He also did vast amounts of research to compile many generations of his ancestry. He wrote and self-published a book called “Some Early Greers of Burnet County” detailing his roots and adventures as a youth. A copy resides in the Burnet County library.
Doyle loved his family. He was famous for the wheel barrow rides he gave his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is uncertain who had the most fun during the rides; PapPa or the kids. When kids got too big for the wheel barrow rides, Doyle loved nothing better to sit at the table and play dominoes, Rumikub, or Mexican Train with his family. He had a great sense of humor. Even as the cancer was ravaging his body his mind and sprit were sharp and he was still cracking jokes. As the Greer family joined together in love and sorrow, they cherished the time they spent with Doyle. The family agrees that it is such a blessing to remember with much love and admiration the life and accomplishments of Doyle: a great man and the cornerstone of their family.
He was a great story teller and loved to recall the days of his youth when he and his brothers and sisters swam in the creek and ran around the countryside. He also told of catching catfish bare-handed in the rocks of San Gabriel creek.
He served in the US Navy and almost starved to death on Guam. According to him, the Navy food never made it that far west and they had to live off Spam for quite a while. When he got out of the Navy, he married his country sweetheart. His “Joppa Gal” as he lovingly referred to Ruth, was his loyal and dedicated wife for nearly 61 years.
Doyle loved to watch sports, especially baseball and golf. He was an avid Astro fan for 44 years. Doyle founded and was President of Northeast Little League in San Antonio to help area youth and afford his sons, Keith and Gary, the opportunity to play ball. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf. He caught the biggest bass of his life on Keith’s 21st birthday and declared, “Happy Birthday!”. Just a couple of years ago he was very pleased when he managed to shoot his age in a golf game.
Doyle was a committed follower of Christ and chartered both Northeast Baptist Church in San Antonio as well as our very own Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Spring, Tx. He attended church every Sunday and enjoyed Sunday school socials where he played dominoes. He even helped Mark Wilson to obtain his Master’s in Forty-Two.
In retirement, he was involved in a fiction or non-fiction book almost constantly and worked the crossword in the paper every day. Although he never completed a degree of higher learning, he was a very intelligent and educated man. He was well respected in his professional life among his FAA colleagues. He also did vast amounts of research to compile many generations of his ancestry. He wrote and self-published a book called “Some Early Greers of Burnet County” detailing his roots and adventures as a youth. A copy resides in the Burnet County library.
Doyle loved his family. He was famous for the wheel barrow rides he gave his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is uncertain who had the most fun during the rides; PapPa or the kids. When kids got too big for the wheel barrow rides, Doyle loved nothing better to sit at the table and play dominoes, Rumikub, or Mexican Train with his family. He had a great sense of humor. Even as the cancer was ravaging his body his mind and sprit were sharp and he was still cracking jokes. As the Greer family joined together in love and sorrow, they cherished the time they spent with Doyle. The family agrees that it is such a blessing to remember with much love and admiration the life and accomplishments of Doyle: a great man and the cornerstone of their family.
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