Best Day Ever

First of all, grandparenting is a lot of fun, at least for Cindy and me. There is a reluctance to let me grandparent by myself; I have a reputation for letting my grandchildren do more than they would with their parents. Maybe I allow them to eat dessert before a meal or climb a tree they were ordered to stay out of. The reputation is well-earned. But I hope all humans get to experience being around youngsters when they are in the golden age of life. None of my children lives anywhere close to our home, so when they come to our home field, we want to take full advantage of our time together. 

All this to say, Cindy and I were a little anxious when our 1,500-mile-away grandchildren were making a trip to see us. This may sound selfish, but we wanted the week to be so fun that they could not wait to come back. Hopefully, the parents will feel the same. So, we planned one activity after another. Stage productions probably require less thought to be put into their daily activities. Secretly, we wanted to be the A-Team of grandparents. I don’t believe this is an official title; it's just the first number called when the grandkids needed a sitter. 

Thus, Camp Rochester was formed in Aiken, South Carolina—horse country—a place we call our second home. Cindy was determined to create a perfect week filled with activities that would never be forgotten. It felt nostalgic for me. I have vivid memories of family trips from childhood, yet I can hardly recall what I ate for lunch yesterday. It's funny how that works. We were hoping to create memories for our grandkids that would live forever. I was wondering if we could pull it off. 

Do you remember what it was like when you were young and in awe of the world around you? Aging somehow makes us less amazed. But spending time with the grandkids allows me to recapture that youthful magic. What an incredible way to make us all feel truly alive again. 

In preparation for the upcoming get-together, we went a little overboard with planning—or really, Cindy did. Barnum & Bailey Circus would have been upstaged. We borrowed animals and arranged trips, including a ride through the zoo and a trip to the movies. My grandson's favorite stop was the county fair, where he rode every ride on the property. The faster, the better. He was only 8. I easily met the minimum height requirements, but was reluctant to get on a ride that made me feel like throwing up. Mason couldn’t get enough of it, while my granddaughter, Mary, insisted on winning something. I spent $50 winning a $2 stuffed animal, and I was her hero. We all went home with blue faces from cotton candy. I guess we should have saved it for after dinner. When comparing it with all the technology at her fingertips, there is no substitute for the Himalayan running in circles backward or bumper cars banging into each other.. They just can’t be improved on. 

The movie trip is always a great stop. We ate as much popcorn and drank as we could stuff in our mouths. I was a huge fan of this stop, although I had to visit the bathroom three times in the one-and-a-half-hour movie. There were horseback rides. Eating out. Endless activities. Nothing was off the table. 

Of course, not everything went according to plan. Nap times got in the way—sometimes the kids needed a rest, but more often, I did! “Grandpa, again?!” There were a couple of rain showers, clearly beyond our control. But as the sun set each day, we were all worn out, which made us think that maybe, just maybe, Camp Rochester had been a success. 

A few days in, we sat around the breakfast table, and one of the kids started chanting, “Best day ever!” Soon, everyone joined in until we were all yelling in unison, “Best day ever,” and laughing ourselves silly. It was magic. And just like that, “Best day ever” became our mantra—our new way to start each day. I believe we did it! We created forever memories. 

That experience moved me and got me thinking. What if we approached every day with the mindset that it would be the "Best day ever"? 

For me, spending quality time with my wife is at the top of the list. I’m sure conclusions are being made, but I want a different quality of time. Meaningful conversation would be pleasant—a couple of laughs. Belly-aching laughs will be even better. The list should have started with a great cup of coffee and silence. I understand a workout would be punishment for some, but I like to go to the gym. Maybe I’d close a big sale at work or get a promotion—that could certainly make for an excellent day. What would your list include? I challenge you to try it: make a list of what would make today the "Best Day Ever" for you, and see if it brightens your day. 

What about those days when nothing is going right? I have a story about a day I anticipated was not going to be the best. Or even good. This story was filled with surprises. 

Contrary to what Hallmark would have you believe, I don’t think wedding days are the happiest day ever. That’s a myth. A wedding is an event that you endure, not for yourself, but to bring happiness to a lot of guests, many of whom you may never see again. This was not going to be a good day. 

You might shed a tear as you watch the newlyweds walk the gauntlet, I mean the aisle, to get to the escape vehicle at the end of the ceremony. Hallelujah. Let’s be honest; you’re just glad it’s over. Until, of course, the bills come. They haunt the parents long after the last dance and are relieved that the financial bleeding has finally stopped! 

I got married over 40 years ago, and it was a beautiful day. A small town affair in a little Methodist Church, followed by a reception at a Southern mansion. A mansion where I come from didn't have to be that impressive. It's not like Tara in Gone with the Wind. The “mansion” is pretty modest in today's terms. Since then, I’ve watched three kids join their mates in holy matrimony. Fortunately, we all made the right call on compatible human beings, so the result was positive, but let’s face it, the actual wedding days aren’t what I’d call the best. That was until my daughter’s wedding. 

It was at her wedding that I experienced an amusing turn of events. It wasn’t because of the over-served guests–though I have a few great stories about them. I pulled one of the young men or victims of alcohol-over-imbibing out of the bushes. He said he was just tired–that’s what I told the search team that had spent an hour looking for him. It was pretty entertaining. No, this time, the surprise came courtesy of Mother Nature herself. 

My wife hired a choir for the ceremony, and let me tell you, they were phenomenal. Did I mention I had wanted to stick to a budget? I imagined checking costs and comparing the budget to actual expenses. If I had any intention of running this wedding like a business, my wife did not get the memo. Paying an entire African-American choir was not part of my vision of saying, “I do.” They were good. And I was reminded over and over that it was only money. Code for: you can’t stop it anyway. 

So, here we are in the middle of a beautiful outdoor wedding. Our daughter and her husband had just exchanged vows and were walking away, hand in hand, ready to start their new life. Unbeknownst to us, a black snake had slithered its way into the choir area. The next thing I knew, there was more hopping around than at a trampoline park. I mean, it was like popcorn popping in hot oil. Like a house on fire. At first, I thought they were just excited about my daughter’s wedding. Maybe hit the bar a little early. I thought it was part of the act. Then I realized it was something far more dramatic. Those who have never experienced a black snake were not enjoying the moment. The choir members were in panic mode, scrambling in every direction and hauling ass to their automobiles. 

Once I heard the facts, I looked at my two sons to determine their level of guilt. But no – this wasn’t their fault—just good ol’Mother Nature making her appearance. 

That does not constitute the “best day ever,” but it did provide one of the most memorable moments of the day. My takeaway is that every day has the potential to be the best day ever. You just have to choose to make it so. And I’ll even include wedding days, I guess. 

The “best day ever” is a philosophy. When entertaining our grandkids, I decided it was worth starting every morning with the declaration: “Best day ever”. Why? Because today is all we got. That’s it. Living in this imperfect world is a privilege, yet we often take it for granted, assuming tomorrow will come. But there will be a day when it doesn’t. 

So, consider my philosophy: Best day ever. Think about it while showering, drinking coffee in the morning, sitting behind your desk, driving the kids to school, or going to school yourself. Whatever you’re doing, don’t waste it. 

Here’s what I think will happen: morale improves when everyone buys into the idea of making the day great. Heck, turn the music up—play “We Are The Champions” and maybe even bust a couple of moves! This attitude also reminds us that life is finite. There’s no time to waste. Even if yesterday was declared the "Best Day Ever," today is brimming with opportunity. Just seize it. I’m already levitating with excitement! I’m committed to making today the best day for everyone around me. And I can’t wait for the next visit from the Grandkids. And then, their weddings! 

Nuts & Bolts: I am asking for help here. Let’s spread the word. We are all put here for a purpose: to live in the moment and make it unbelievable. Go out and make it the best day ever.