You would think at 41 years of age, I would no longer need to be reminded about how fragile life really is. I should know to appreciate each good day, each moment of peace and tranquility in my home and in my heart. The moments when life has been trouble-free, when no tragedy permeates my inner circle have been taken for granted. Life certainly has an unkind way of reminding us to be grateful. On Saturday morning, about 8:30, I was reminded in a swift and cruel manner just how fragile life is. My friend and co-worker of over 14 years, Sylvia, lost her 34 year old husband suddenly Friday evening, with no warning of his impending death. He had plans to take her oldest grandson hunting Saturday morning. Life is cruel. When the grandson woke early, he thought his Tata Alex left him behind. His innocence was shattered moments later when he was told that Alex passed away, at home, the evening before. Life seems particularly cruel to Sylvia. This is the second time she has had to deal with the sudden death of her spouse. Her first husband, Francisco, died of a massive heart attack while at work. It was Alex that saved her from the destructive path that Francisco’s death put her on. I mourned with her then as I mourn with her now. I tried, but could find no words to comfort her. The best I could offer was a tight, long, heartfelt hug. I stroked her hair as she spoke of Alex and we cried together, but I could not ease her pain. I wish it were possible to ease her pain, but it is a journey she will travel alone. Life is hard and really unfair. The road for her is going to be awfully hard and terribly lonely. Her story needs to be a reminder to us all that each day that life is absent of tragedy – it is a good day. There are inconveniences and even days that are not great – but life really is good when those we love are here to share it with us. We fool ourselves in to thinking that our loved ones will always be here, that the life we live today will always be.... Life comes with no guarantees. During the last three weeks, I have found myself being depressed and wallowing in self-pity over the loss of Wynn’s job.
That feels so insignificant today.
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2 comments:
What a terrible thing to go through Aunt Sherry. I know that things are crazy right now, and what a terrible way to spend your weekend. It is true, I think that I tend to take life for granted, but when you experience a loss that seems so unimaginable, you do realize that life is short.
Sometimes all we can do is just hug the person that lost someone and let them know that you are there for them. The same thing happened to my aunt about a month ago, she was tragically killed in a hit and run. It's a hard thing to deal with, but with friends like you, she will be able to deal with this terrible situation.
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