Can you spare a moment?

A Moment If You Please...
Moments Can Be Short. Moments Can Be Long.
There Are Moments Of Joy. Moments Of Sorrow.
Moments Of Passion. Moments You'll Never Forget.
Moments You've Already Forgotten.
Moments You Didn't Get.
There Are Awkward Moments. Senior Moments.
Moments Of Truth. And Momentary Lapses In Judgment.
People Who Ask For A Moment. Share A Moment.
I Need A Moment. You Got A Moment?
Wait A Moment. You Can Take A Moment.
Make A Moment, Spoil A Moment.
And If All The Stars Line Up In The Right Moment,
Then That Moment Can Be Perfect Moment.
Can Define You Moments. Can Delight You.
And Moments Can Change Your Life.
Here's To The Moment. And Squeezing All You Can
Out Of Every Last Single One Of Them...
2007 (Voice Over) Lexus media commercial

Every so often, you come across a simply great print campaign, that dovetails nicely with a client's product or service. Savour The Moment, Lexus. There could also be parallels here to this new lifestyle I'm courting and circling, following cardiac surgery 6 months ago.

According to the Lexus agency copywriters, there's much yet for me to see and do! And apparently, a few more pearls to string. I believe them.

By my count, I've already com- pleted thirteen of their great Moments (above left), and have already attempted a few others with modest results. Maybe a tattoo could round that count off to fourteen. In your quest to 'follow your heart,' how many Moments have you healthy folk completed so far? What's your tally?

So far from here: There's not enough sangria in Spain you could ply me with, dress me up in white with a red sash, and then with a hearty double-dog-dare-ya, shove me out on the street to run with any bull. That said, I have raised a glass to a falling sunset off Key West, after swimming earlier with several tame dolphins. I haven't hugged a real koala, but I did blow kisses once to a couple of hungry looking polar bear cubs in Churchill. And I can't begin to relate the number of biz tightropes I've walked across, with few safety nets below. Long ago, I did quit my job to start travelling the world. Fortunately at the time, I was in the travel industry. With a quorum of security nearby, I did have breakfast once with Elvis; about 4am if I remember correctly, in the Las Vegas Hilton hotel cafeteria (this was late in his chemical/chubby stage.) He wouldn't qualify for my idol prize. But shortly thereafter, I did meet an unassuming Sir Edmund Hillary one evening, who was the first person to scale Mt. Everest. He insisted, that I just call him Ed. I've never forgotten that. Somehow, I can't imagine Sir Elton John or Sir Mick Jagger being the same class act, even though I love their music. Sorry, I haven't build a house as yet, but I have kept the economy brisk, by buying a half-dozen or so, usually at full pop. That was in between several 'footitis' sailboats, a period when I started to appreciate looking up at the heavens, from safe North Channel moorings. Haven't got any tattoos, as yet. Ditto, running a marathon. Nor written a best seller, either. I think we'll stop at this blog. What I heartedly recommend though, is that you take along a big blanket, should your interests turn towards any unplanned beach activity. Trust me, sand is not always your best friend in these unscheduled trysts. I still remember the Vietnam era well, lost a good buddy to it, and have finally come at peace with that violent decade. I've no yearning to stone the blarney kisser as yet, even though some friends say I possess contrarian leanings, so I guess I could qualify at tilting the odd windmill. On different occasions, I've also been in the saddle, so to speak, atop an elephant and a camel (different continents.) Both were a smelly, bumpy ride, as I recall. Luv mango's, especially at water's edge in Bali. And along the way, had the plum luck of falling 'haaarrd' in love -- as they say in curling terms -- on a level, that leaves you bruised and breathless, for all of the right reasons. These days I'm simplifying, just trying to follow my new heart. This quest for balance is becoming a whole new voyage of anticipation, a blank canvas looking for many rich colours to fill. I'm happy with my lot.

So, there's my 13 Lexus life Moments. I could also add a few other interesting entries, but the blog cops might go into a tsk-tsk mode.

Oh, and I met the Pope in Rome, sort of. My daughter can fill you in with the details, should you be a little curious. Our travelling companion for that special long weekend holiday with our daughters, was the pilot who flew us all to Italy on that special father and daughter outing. Unfortunately, he recently died, taken too soon from us all by cancer. We four shall never forget the good memories, Al.

I'm not sure what brought these pearls of wisdom to the fore, but it's also good to see more crisp sandcastles lately in my life with retreating tides, than the other way around I witnessed several months ago.

Why there's enough good thoughts in the air, to make a feller want to pull a hard right at a certain car dealership on the horizon.

Don't worry, kicking tires doesn't have to be a guy thing -- you know, that sacred ritual the nice people in the auto sector would like you to go and do on the first sunny Saturday in Spring. Remember what they say about convertibles, is true: top goes down, pulse goes up.

So, pile in, and don't forget your sun screen, shovel and bucket. Sandcastle season, awaits...