This was approaching one autumn when there was shorter daylight and Calvin and Hobbes thought that soon, the earth will be a dark, lifeless ball of ice...
Hobbes: Are you going to live the last few months of your life any differently now that the sun is going out and we're all doomed?
Calvin: No, I've always believed in living each day as if it was my last, so I never have any regrets.
And this was a time when Calvin and Hobbes saw a dead bird...
Calvin: Sighhh... Once it's too late, you appreciate what a miracle life is. You realize that nature is ruthless and our existence is very fragile, temporary and precious. But to go on with your daily affairs, you can't really think about that.... which is probably why everyone takes the world for granted and why we act so thoughtlessly.
And this was during one of Calvin & Hobbes' wagon rides into the woods ...
Calvin: You know, sometimes it seems things go by too quickly. Days go by and we hardly notice them. Life becomes a blur. Often it takes some calamity to make us live in the present. We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take the time to enjoy where we are. Then suddenly we wake up and see all the mistakes we've made, but it's too late to change anything.
And this was a time when Calvin wanted to play horsey with his dad who seemed rather preoccupied . . .
Calvin: You know Dad, it won't be long before I'm all grown up. One day you'll make up and wonder how all the years slipped by. You'll look back and say, "Where has the time gone? Calvin's so big, it's hard to remember when he was small enough that I could give him horsey rides... but those days will be lost forever.
Sorry, I had to remove the punchlines so we can focus on the lessons. :)
Excerpts are from "The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes" and the Tenth Anniversary Book.
