One of my all time favorite bloggers is retiring as a blogger. I can’t even comment on his last post to tell him I will miss his writing.

Before it goes away, you have a chance to go read the amazing things Varifrank wrote.

I’m going to be going through my blog and cutting and pasting the best of his work to the posts that talked about them. (Unless he comes here to tell me I can’t.– Don’t, please.)

I’m thinking he’s thinking things like this:

I spent the morning at an old friend’s grave
Flowers and ‘Amazing Grace’, he was a good man
He spent his whole life spinning his wheels
Never knowing how the real thing feels
He never took a chance or took the time to dance
And I stood there thinking, as I said goodbye
Today is the first day of the rest of my life

I’m gonna stop looking back and start moving on
Learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, without any net
That’s what I’m gonna be about
Yeah, I wanna be running
When the sand runs out

Cause people do it everyday
Promise themselves they’re gonna change
I’ve been there, but I’m changing from the inside out
That was then and this is now
I’m a new man, yeah, I’m a brand new man
And when they carve my stone, they’ll write these words
“Here lies a man who lived life for all that it’s worth”

I’m gonna stop looking back and start moving on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, without any net
That’s what I’m gonna be about
Yeah, I wanna be running
When the sand runs out

by Rascal Flatts

don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who’s who and so-n-so’s that used to be the best
At such’n’such … it wouldn’t matter much

I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, “Well Done” good and faithful one…

Nicole Nordeman- Legacy

I wonder when we first bought into this
So satisfied with status quo
Have we convinced ourselves that this is all there is
Well all that is within me says we were meant to break free

Live like there’s no tomorrow
Love extravagantly
Lead a life to be followed
Goodbye ordinary
Goodbye ordinary

We were never meant to compromise
Settle for mediocrity
This life was never meant to be a waste of time
Well all that is within me says no more just existing

Live like there’s no tomorrow
Love extravagantly
Lead a life to be followed
Goodbye ordinary
Goodbye ordinary

No more complacency
No more just settling this time
Goodbye to atrophy
For we were meant to be alive
Alive
Alive

Live like there’s no tomorrow
Love extravagantly
Live like there’s no tomorrow
Love extravagantly
Lead a life to be followed
Oh, Goodbye ordinary
Goodbye ordinary

The one I first thought of, though, was Don’t Blink by Kenny Chesney.

Don’t blink
Just like that you’re six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don’t blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your “better half”
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don’t blink

Enjoy the ride, Varifrank. Your thoughts and your words will be sorely missed.