I am well aware of the recent events in the Southern US. All the tornadoes and destruction left behind. Homes lost. Lives lost. Devastation, no question. But, I will be honest. I feel very removed from it all. The coverage here is minimal and for the amount of time I spend watching television (which is very, very little) I just do not have much information on all of it. The majority of my information has come in the form of Facebook status updates. Knowing what is going on in the news has taken a back seat (it may even be stuck in the trunk) to raising my family. I can go for quite some time without reading the news or watching it on television and knowing very little about what is happening in the world around me. Including my own backyard so to speak.
It is what it is. So I rely on my husband or Facebook to give me the latest news. I might catch up on these things when the girls move out in 15 – 20 years.
Then this past few weeks, a friend spends all her free time with her Mother who is not well. Waiting for her time. Although expected, still very stressful and upsetting for her and her family. When someone from an older generation passes on, we can find some peace in knowing that they lived a good long life. We can find some comfort in knowing that we had so much time to spend with them while here on Earth.
So, I log onto my faithful Facebook account today and I see a status update… announcing the passing of a friend. A name that I think I recognize. Someone that Craig worked with before we moved here. So I search the local newspaper for that area and find my way to the obituaries. It is the man who I thought it was. I read the brief entry and gasp when I read… “died suddenly…. at the age of 46.”
Tears sting my eyes and I think about how that is only 6 years older than my Craig. His children still in high school. His Wife. This makes me lose my breath and I feel like a vice is gripping my heart. He died. Had a heart attack while playing recreational hockey. He still had a life time to live.
This is why, I try not to fight with Craig. I work hard not to find fault in things he says or does. It’s not always easy but this news is reminder for me. Not to take my loves for granted. The reality is we don’t know what our future holds or how many days we have left on this Earth.
{ 2 comments }
I so agree my friend. Life is so short and precious and could be gone any minute.
I am so sorry about that loss , sending you lots of HUGS.
“may we hold our Friends tight” xo
Kir recently posted..Conversations with my Kids
This is so true! The loss of a few people in my life in the past few years has made me realize how short life is. I am thankful for all of the blessings around me. I take stock of all of them several times a day….. helps me keep things in perspective, and remain positive and thankful 🙂 Cheers! 😀