Time Marches On: How I Recently Witnessed the Beauty of Humanity

Time marches on. Many of you will remember that as the title of a No. 1 country hit by Tracy Lawrence back in 1996. The song chronicles the dysfunctional lives of one family through the decades – from mom and dad’s crumbling marriage to sister and brother’s forays into styles and substances.

But the message of the tune is bigger than any singer and genre. Time does indeed march on, and with it comes changes. In the real world, those changes – we hope – make us wiser, kinder, nobler, and perhaps even happier. This is a story about all the above. In our increasingly harsh society, how refreshing it is that humanity can prevail. I’ve recently witnessed humanity up close and personal.

It was late June, and we were in South Florida for our 40^th high school reunion. The event, which I helped organize, was intended to be casual, outdoors, communal, and fun. We had a nice turnout of people who all laughed, drank, ate, and reminisced together. That alone would have been enough for me to think, “Yes, this was a success.” But there was more.

In attendance was a former middle and high school classmate who back then was, let’s just say, less than kind to me. When I learned he was coming, it gently jogged my memory, but I found myself having no ill feelings at all. I learned long ago that holding grudges only destroys the owner of the grudge, not the recipient. He arrived and I said hello, wrote his name on the adhesive tag, and handed it to him with a smile. I thought nothing else of it.

He then walked up to me and looked me right in the eyes, “I want to say I’m sorry for the way I treated you when we were in high school.” I was floored and, frankly, at a loss for words. I tossed out something inadequate like we were kids and kids do stupid things, but we are adults now. We both laughed and he gave me a hug.

As the reunion progressed, I made up my mind that before we left, I would tell him something much more appropriate and meaningful. We all helped clean up and pack leftovers and I seized my opportunity. I pulled him aside and said, “I want you to know that I forgave you a very long time ago. But what you said to me earlier was very sweet and I thank you.” He gave me another hug.

Ah, humanity. Now, fast forward to late July. We were at a baby shower for a former co-worker that now lives out of state but came back to town just to celebrate the impending birth of his son. I always enjoyed his company, and our many music talks together. He’s an IT pro and it was he who helped me set up my Mario’s Musings blog. Anyway, as the afternoon progressed and I watched his pregnant fiancée join in the baby shower games, I thought how sweet it was that he found his soulmate, that his life is now focused on starting a family, that he has discovered his place in this world.

Time marches on, indeed. In September, we will return to South Florida for the wedding of my nephew. Let me start by saying his fiancée is lovely inside and out, as is my nephew. Let me also say that I am incredibly proud of him, a 25-year-old man who earned his master’s degree, teaches middle school students with autism, and already owns his home. He’s encountered a setback or two in his young life but has never wallowed in self-pity or allowed his cards to impede his progress. He has more fortitude than so many people I know.

And here we are. I’m soon to turn 58, time keeps marching on. I wouldn’t trade a single year or a single experience. I am who I am today because time marched on. There is no greater feeling than to be surrounded by beautiful people who allowed time to make them wiser, kinder, nobler, and yes, happier.