Today was one of my hardest days in a long time. Today, I buried a co-worker, a good friend, and one of the nicest men that ever lived. Taken from this life too soon.. he had so many lives yet to touch. But those who knew him were touched by him each and every day. His wonderful personality, quirky sense of humor and overall genuine caring of people. When he asked you how you were, he truly wanted to know.
As I sat in the pew listening to the music, looking at him laying there so peaceful, I looked down at his memorial card they handed out at the door, and I noticed the dash between his birthdate and the date of his death. ( You should check out my stash called the dash if you haven't yet), and I couldn't help but think about all that was in between those dates. He was a husband, father, a brother, an uncle, co-worker and a wonderful friend to so many people. This is a part of life I know, but no matter how you try to put it in perspective, it still hurts. His son spoke the sweetest words a son could say about his father. I didn't have enough tissues handy. He had led a good life, been a good man and left everyone with wonderful, fun filled memories for us to celebrate with each other each and every day.
I began to reflect on my own mortality and what my dash would say. What would my legacy be and how would I be remembered when I am lying in his place. I can't say I have led a good life, it has been so very hard, but I always tried to do the right things. And I loved my children more than life itself. I have loved many, even those than I knew could not love me back. I tried each and every day to make people laugh and if they cried, I cried with them. And would do anything for anyone.. even give them the shirt off my back if it helped them. Since there is still a blank next to my dash, I don't know how it will be filled in the end. But I realized that I better do what I can now before that dash is completed. I would like to think I have another day to tell those I love that I love them, with every ounce of my heart. Even those that can't love me back, they have their reasons. I can and will still love them. All I can do at this point is keep on living my life as I have, and hope that I can touch people's lives in such a way that they can remember me as fondly as they remembered him today. And I know that death is around us all the time, but for me, with this being so sudden and not expected... I think it just hits home and I have to take a step back and rethink how my life is, how I have lived my life and how, when I die, I will be remembered. If nothing else, we must remember that life is a gift we all take for granted. Take nothing and take no one for granted.
