A sad goodbye

It's hard to look around you, and think that someday, all of this will be gone. Or, more specifically, you will be gone. It's hard to see the people you care about left without you, or you left without the ones who had to go first.

And we can't see our lives like that. If we did, every goodbye would be filled with uncontrollable tears (for who knew not when - but if - we would see them again), every hello would be like the end-of-the-toothpaste squeeze, and all day would be spent wondering if we had done everything we could with the people we wanted to.

But, still, in the back of my mind, I always have to remember that anything could happen. To me. To my family. And, although I am very careful not to become maudlin or weepy, I do try to do things specifically for that reason. I try not to leave town for work in the middle of a fight. I try to talk to my Grandma whenever I can. And I try to say 'I love you' - whether with words or actions.

Sometimes people leave us, and for whatever reason, it was their time. Whatever I may think about it (they were too young, had too much living left, was really starting their life), it is not my choice. He has a bigger plan and although I don't understand it sometimes, maybe I just wasn't meant to. I have to believe that everyone was meant for something, and everyone has an hourglass that is not supposed to be turned over again.

God bless you Uncle Chuck. You will be missed and loved.