Points2Ponder by Alan P. Scaglione

“father and son: one teaching, one learning-- both playing!”

Ever have one of those perfect moments?

You know…when you are suddenly looking around, almost in slow motion, and you go “Wow! This moment could NOT be any better!”

And you just take it all in…breathe in the moment and go…”glad I lived today!”

There’s a sign we have in our home:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; it’s measured by the moments that take our breath away!”

It’s those moments that make it all worthwhile, and those breathtaking moments…are usually, unexpected and unplanned.



POINTS2PONDER Why does it matter whether it’s a Kodak moment? Sometimes, the best memories can’t be captured in a picture.



I spent the day recently with my son and his son…that would be Jett.

We rode the carousel at the mall—3 times! Jett kept picking another horse he wanted to ride…third time, he picked a dolphin—we have to ride the dolphin, right? Dad said no, but Nano said….”he’s 2, I’m his grandfather, he can have whatever he wants!” And he did…did I mention the larger than life mnm chocolate chip cookie he had his hands on and his mouth full of…while he was riding the carousel? Yes…you can get the visual… priceless!

We then took him to see my frail aunt, who is in her last days here on earth. My son and his son visited while I gave them this moment with her. You just don’t get to redo those moments in your life—I was thankful that he is a thoughtful man and wanted to honor my aunt. Again priceless!

When we stopped for lunch, my son went to get Jett out of his car seat. Jett put his hand out and shouted “NO! Nano!!” He wanted me to get him out of his car seat, not his father. My son just lifted his hands up and said, “Looks like he wants his Nano!” I admit it—I was beaming with pride. Priceless!

We went to lunch at an Italian restaurant my family frequents and Jett decided he was big enough to sit in the big boy chair; he did not want the high chair they offered. He again said, “No! Jett Big boy!” I love how he is communicating—definitely a true Scag—not a loss for words!

So…there we were. The impromptu board meeting of Scaglione Heirs: Past, Present and Future! We talked about their new home they are moving into, about work, about Jett, about life. It was just good to connect with my son…sharing his son…for this moment in time. Priceless.

But none of that is the perfect moment I experienced that afternoon.

After we left the restaurant, we had to make an unexpected detour to some place, ANY place that had a bathroom—you know what I mean!

Funny, it happened to be the local hospital where I had my heart attack. I know that place pretty well!

Did I mention that he drove his new VW Passat that day? Probably should have mentioned that earlier.

He jumped out and said I may want to circle around a few times; Jett had tuckered out and fallen asleep. Funny how elderly and infants can just elect to take a nap in the middle of the day—no questions asked!

I get in the driver’s seat and drive around the parking lot; then my son comes out and I drive up; and it happens! That perfect moment that never needs words or explanations or introductions or preparations.

He got in…and we drove off! There it was…in a day filled with priceless moments, this was the one that took my breath away. I was driving my son’s new car, with my grandson sleeping in the rearview mirror and my son in the passenger seat, pointing out spots and reminiscing places we had been as a family in this town we grew up in.

As I drove us home…I thought—“glad I lived today!”