The Last Ride? by Ray Shay

Riding in Style

As our family prepared  to catch our return flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to San Diego this past week, I stood up our carry on luggage with the handle extended skyward. After picking up our boarding passes and checking in our luggage, I grabbed the handle of my carry on only to find our ten year old son, Ryan resting in his familiar spot.

It is a funny location which always makes us both laugh.  He prefers to sit on the "L" shape created by the combination of the handle and the bag.  It has been his favorite

Park City, Utah

spot for many years. I lightly tousled his beautiful brown hair and to his surprise, tilted him back and started wheeling him around.

He has not been my baggage companion for a long time as he is not as small as he used to be. The squeaky wheels and my arm both strained under Ryan's increasing weight. It was a clear indicator he is not getting any smaller.  

As I wheeled him through the airport his older siblings Troy and Raymond who are fifteen and fourteen years respectively, and both hovering around six feet could only dream of such first class service.  

As we moved at our families' consistent hurried pace, I wondered if this just might be the very last time I have the pleasure of hearing Ryan giggle as we slalom through another airport. It also got me thinking about the start of 2015. 

2015 will be full of both surprises and challenges. My biggest challenge is not business as Theresa and I decided early on that our highest priority is our children.  A slightly complex matrix where you want successful employees, great friends and an awesome community, but at the end of the day the ultimate score card is our kids. I think that is true with the vast majority of parents.

With the start of 2015, I feel fortunate we are able to live in this great country and the bountiful blessings including freedom that it presents. I also like that I can still wheel Ryan around an airport and hear his laugh.  It is something I will never forget.

Theresa and I and our entire family wish you a very happy New Year.  

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