TGIFriday

"Life isn't going to wait."

This according to Anna Hansen, girlfriend of world-famous and world-disgraced cycling champion Lance Armstrong. She was talking about how Armstrong has rebounded from his life-altering scandal and shame, and how both he and she have moved on and are now happy and content with their lives.

"You've got to live life no matter what's going on," Hansen said. "Life isn't going to wait."

Good advice, and a great perspetive. Life isn't going to wait for anything.

It's kind of the same thing my brother, Bobby, said to me one morning as we sat on one side of Star Drug Store, the oldest drug store in Texas, having breakfast. Bobby had invited Joe and me to come down to his beach house on Galveston Island's west end for three days of golf, good food, fishing and friendship. I've known Bobby since first grade. Joe since seventh grade.

After the best coconut shrimp I've ever had the night before, at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the bay, we were at breakfast the next morning in the heart of historic downtown Galveston. We're talking about this and that, life and love, blah, blah, blah. Now, you have to understand that Bobby is a motivator. That's what he does. He is a highly charismatic guy, owns a successful business that he co-founded shortly after graduating high school, and is a talented motivational speaker. He truly sees each day as a new challenge, and a chance to make a difference in the world. One of our other friends from school calls Bobby "a rock star."

So, we're at Star Drug Store, talking about life and self-improvement and such, when Bobby says, "OK, make a timeline." He motions with his hands across the table in front of him.

"I'm not makin' a timeline," I say, fully aware of the direction this is headed.

"OK, then, I'll make a timeline," he says. He spreads his hands about a foot-and-a-half apart. He says, "All right, pick a number. Say you and Joe and I are going to live for 88 years."

"Hey, there are 88 keys on the piano," says Joe, an excellent keyboard player.

"Anyway," Bobby says. "So you're about right here," as he shortens the timeline by about two-thirds. "You've got this much (life) left. How long you gonna wait?"

I knew it. I knew that is what he was going to do. But, still, it made an impression on me. How long am I going to wait to be happy? How long until I make the changes that I'd like to make?

That was way back last November, and both my brothers, Bobby and Joe, have been encouraging me ever since.

It's been a fine day here in Central Texas.

Ciao, y'all ...