White threads woven into life's tapestry, simpler times of wonder and imagination, playing hooky and open curiosity, wanting to be a cowboy years. Skinned knees, boundless energy, trading marbles and comic books, perceptions of invincibility years. Little League baseball, fishing in the creek, training wheels, snowball fights and wanting to keep every stray cat years. Summer vacations that seemed to last forever, no cynicism, first kiss and the carefree, no facade to project, uninhibited and laughing out loud years. Green threads woven into life's tapestry, those crazy, don't give a damn, hormone raging student years. Learning of life and love, reading Voltaire, drinking beer and discussing the meaning of life years. The defiant, politically active, can't wait until tomorrow, homecoming years. Job hunting and getting married, first new car, credit cards and buying a puppy, tapestry gaining in complexity years. Red threads woven into life's tapestry, more responsibility, raising kids, keeping up with the neighbors and social awareness years. Middle age paunch, golfing, new house and first gray hair years. High cholesterol, working out again, emerging feelings of discontent and open skepticism years. Long hair, new sports car and wanting to look younger years. Job promotion, stok portfolio, realization of mortality and self-imposed limitations years. Gray threads woven into life's tapestry, waning years, aches and pains, vitamins and prescription drug years. Playing with grandchildren, retirement, new hobbies and going for a long walk years. Playing cards, family reunions, writing poetry and a living will years. Buying a burial plot, smaller house, photography and bird watching, baggy shorts with black socks years. Reflecting on the past, remorseful and if I could do it all over again, pondering the purpose of life years. Black threads woven into life's tapestry, absent minded, failing health and playing with great-grandchildren years. Driver's license revoked, fleeting memories, hard of hearing, bored and working the daily crossword puzzle years. Tired and sick, introspective, cantankerous and pill popping years. Nursing home and sometimes sublime, lonely and afraid to die years. Final goodbyes, last breath taken, burial plot now occupied years. A simple headstone in remembrance, gravesite visited until finally, all who knew him are dead years. Weathered tombstone and discarded photographs, a life lived, tapestry woven and now unraveled as if the past never existed-- in the end, mere footprints in time years.