Jumpline magazine OCT 2022-pages - Flipbook - Page 39
Jack Swerdloff, Ret.
Jumpline Editor
Editor’s Page
Do Not Waste
What Time You Have Left With Yours
Editor’s page, my chance at informing and inspiring
“I know I’m going to die.” Those were the last
words that came out of my son’s mouth according
to the people in the home where he died. My son
was correct. He was a sharp dude. He is not with
us anymore. He bled to death on that garage floor
in Palmetto Bay. The exact garage he had been
playing in with friends for almost 20 years. That is
tough to swallow.
some! He was adored, and we had his back, and
he knew it. We had fun 24/7 and we are proud of
the man and brother who my son Aaron became.
Luckily, we do not have the heavy weight of regrets for anything.
So how are we going to turn my son’s soul
crushing death into something we can all take
a lesson from? I will use this borrowed TV series quote to
quench my need to turn the experience into something helpful.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Episode 4. Elf dude
says to Dwarf dude:
So as a person with experience in the matter, I
ask that you consider making sure your relationships are in a place that your heart will accept if
the unthinkable happens. Let me use my platform for this cause. It is important! 100,000 young
adults die in America every year. With a huge smile, I can say
we did not waste our time together and we are thankful for 22
awesome years of my boy. If my story helps guide your difficult relationships back to acceptance and love, then my son’s
legacy is in motion.
jumpline@local1403.org
Ph: 786-869-0744
“For many years at day’s end, I would look up at it, wondering
what might he think if he were watching me? Would he be proud
of what I’ve accomplished with his legacy, or disappointed by
the countless ways I’d failed to live up to it?” Elrond shared with
Prince Durin. “But then, one night it struck me that I would be
only happy to hear any judgment, so long as it granted me the
opportunity to have but one more conversation with my father.”
He then urged his dwarf friend, “Do not waste what time you
have left with yours.”
Yup. I shed a tear or two or fifty during that part. My boy is
gone, and I can relate. So, I borrowed the line, “Do not waste
what time you have left with yours.” My boy and I DID NOT
waste time! My entire family had immeasurable fun times in
his 22 years. If you could foresee the last words your loved
ones would speak, or read their thoughts in those final seconds, would you have comfort knowing the status of your relationship?
Grief groups are full of people overwhelmed by regrets and
resentments. Time with family is precious. The pain in parents’ eyes when their kid left them, with unfinished business
is a pain you NEVER WANT TO FEEL! At 22, was my son
doing everything I wanted him to do? Nope. But he was awe22 MAXIMIZED YEARS
Always awesome, always happy, Battalion 5 Chief
Indy Morgado. Rest in peace Chief. Gone too early.
My birthday 2020. We
unknowingly only had about 7
weeks left with the boy. Thank
goodness we lived life to the
fullest with support and love
and FUN!
Daughter watching too many
retired MDFR Carters health
posts. Now she says she must
have some kind of fancy pants
eggs lol.
October 2022 | JUMPLINE Magazine
39
