Taking Inventory

A U.S. Census worker

stopped by

our house today.



He handed me an official form to list and count the residents in our dwelling. He asked me to mail the completed information in the envelope provided, wished me well and went on his way.

As I opened the two-sided, tri-folded document and began to ink in information, I remembered the first time I filled out such a document.

The year was 1990. I was living alone in an apartment in southern Minnesota while working at my first job out of college.

A decade later in the year 2000, I filled out such a document for the second time. Now married, I was living in north-central Minnesota and caring full-time for our two children and expecting number three at the year's end.

Today in 2010, I fill in a census document for the third time.

I am still living in the same place with my husband. Two of our children are nearing adulthood. Our youngest child, at age nine, will be officially tallied for the first time.

I'm wondering what the year 2020 will hold.

Clear Vision?

By the next census, my husband and I could be empty nesters.
How time flies...


Taking Inventory

every now and then

makes sense...

if for no other reason

than to recognize

the present

as a gift.