This past year Brian Peterson has been bringing his ever-expanding catalog of song recordings to Tesco Productions. It’s been quite an impressive experience. There’ll be more shortly (both of his songs arriving and of this story).

On the heels of last month’s article about a 90th birthday, this past weekend gave precedent for a follow-up. Why not extend the celebration to the hometown’s Fall Festival? We did. It was quite a good time and generated the repeated words in the title!

The parade portion of the event was quite typical with the local school marching band, various floats, a variety of vehicles for business and fun (including “performing” lawn mowers), the local fire and rescue, lots of tossed candy, and near the end the tractors getting their moment of highlight (followed by a lot more tossed candy). I had been part of that local band (trumpet) a lot of years ago, but never had the privilege of being in any other entry – and this one was certainly special.

But at the end of day, what was the main takeaway? I think it was this: Appreciate every day and opportunity we’ve been blessed with, and make the most of it. Our “stuff” is nice (and we need to be thankful for it), the event was memorable (and once in a lifetime), but ultimately we had utilized the opportunity and what was available to create something special beyond all of it combined. Maybe that would happen more often if we were intentional in maximizing each day for what it is.

As long as we’re still breathing air, we’re all going to roll around another 365 (or 366) days and a birthday pops up again. Our family recently celebrated a milestone one – 90 years. The calendar also rolled up the same age for a Farmall tractor my dad gave me many years ago. I made the investment to have it restored and it was celebrated along with the family member, but it was certainly relegated to being lesser important.

A community center was rented for the celebration because we’re quite an assembly by now – over 70 people (and everyone was in attendance). There were of course appreciations expressed and a lot of conversations (and an equal amount of food). At the end of the day, I at least came away with a deeper sense of legacy. What are we imparting everyday, and what of real value will last beyond us? Someone commented that even that 90-year-old tractor with its very simplistic technology would outlive all of us (barring of course some unforeseen event).

A young musician came by the studio recently and we were talking some about our journeys – Tesco Productions over the past 40 years and his shorter time making music. I showed him around, which brought us by the dozens and dozens of names signed on the walls – some with accompanying artwork. This often causes me to reflect on the interactions with so many people over the years, and the projects we worked on together. In a study group I’m in, I was assigned last week to expound on Psalm 90 from the Old Testament book of Psalms. We had been reading about the concluding months and days of Moses, and I did not remember this psalm is attributed to him. Nearing the end of his life and giving final thoughts, he summarizes his many years leading the nation of Israel. He then concludes with these final repeated words, “Lord, establish (confirm) the works of our hands.” In other words, “may our lives have lasting value beyond us,” implying that’s not a given. I guess that’s a big part of why I’m still opening the door and connecting with clients – hoping our time together has meaning beyond itself.