“If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.”

On a September day last fall, professor of Computer Science Randy Pausch gave his final lecture to his students and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University.  You see, Randy Pausch had only months to live and wanted to share his dreams and passion with those he cared most about.  That lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” was delivered on September 18, 2007 in an auditorium at CMU.  If you’d like to see and hear what Randy has to say, click the video below.  Be prepared for an hour of both smiles and tears.

I never met Randy Pausch, but I’m amazed and inspired by his words of passion and love.  My son, Josh, was on campus at the time and a part of the community that he loved.  And, as so many who teach do, his subject area was computer science, but he taught of joy, life, and dreams.

Randy Pausch died at age 47 on July 25, 2008.  His spirit remains alive through all he reached.

After writing yesterdays’ post, Time, I am reminded of the song, Sunrise Sunset from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don’t remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn’t it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Where has the time gone? It doesn’t seem so long since that chilly, rainy August day when we left our son, Josh, at Carnegie Mellon University for the first time. Five days from now, I’ll be bringing him home for the summer after a wonderful year.

Where has the time gone? My daughter, Sarah, is completing her Junior year of high school. At the high school academic awards breakfast, when she was on stage as one of the Top Ten students in her class, the speaker reminded us from that group of 10, will be the Valedictorian of the Class of 2009. Sarah will graduate and on to the rest of her life.

Where has the time gone? In 20 days, I’ll have been in business for 21 years, married for 28 in 6 months, and in August, taken 58 trips around the sun.

Where has the time gone?