The Friends Who Have Walked In And Out Of Our Lives...

Do you ever think back on some of the wonderful people who have walked in and out of your life over the years? Sometimes, all it takes for me is driving by the house they used to live in. Unfortunately, I'm also forced to remember them when they pass away from this world.

It's a well-known fact that I'm no stranger to death. I've lost countless friends and loved ones to an endless array of ailments and diseases and tragedies. Each and every death makes me wonder about the old saying "Only the good die young". From what I have seen over the years, it appears to be true. I mean, I'm still here for some crazy reason, which will probably explain a lot about me. I've never been an angel by any measure.

Today, I learned of an old friend's passing and it has really darkened my day. There have already been entirely too many deaths so far this year. All have been good, dear people and it has been difficult to lose them.

However, my friend Mary was an angel walking on this earth and my heart is cracking wide open for her family. The first time we met was when she and her family bought the house two doors down and our sons became fast friends throughout grade school, even though her son didn't attend the same school. Mine were young and still in private school at that point, but it never seemed to hinder their friendship. They eventually moved to another neighborhood, but I will always cherish the years they were our neighbors.

A few years ago, I'd heard that she and her husband had divorced and that she had moved back down to Kerrville, where she was originally from. By then, all of the kids were grown and I had not seen Mary more than a handful of times since they had moved away from our neighborhood. You know how it goes. We still managed to get the boys together all the time, but things seem to change when a friend is no longer living two-doors-down-the-street from you.

Still, when I read about her death today, I bawled my eyes out. There was no indication as to the cause of her demise, but she was ALWAYS good to my children and was always there to take up the slack for me, when I needed her to. She was one of the many blessings that floated in and out of our lives over the years. Mary was only 65 years old. That is only 9 years older than me…. Rest in peace, my friend.

It scares me a bit, because I want to be here until I'm old and crotchety, just like my ancestors that went before me. This is where I'm reminded that there is a reason why we don't know when we will be whisked away from this life in a mere breath.

Embrace life. Live each day as fully as you can. Love everyone as hard as you can, as long as you can… I've decided to not allow myself to get depressed. Instead, I'm going to use this as another reminder to get out there and live my life to the fullest degree. If I can find the energy, that is.