Then, my neighbor died. She was like family....no she was family. She met me when I was 28 years old, recently married and full of dreams. She watched my husband and I create our home and watch each of our children slowly come into our lives. She saw us in so many different stages, the happiness, the exhaustion, the times we weren't getting along and the times where we were so full of love. She watched it all ......and now.....she is gone. Another loved one who we never actually thought would leave us.
Last week, I got the news that a dear dear friend passed away at the age of 43. Max was full of life and always had a smile. I met him in college. When I lived off campus, he lived down the street from me with a group of great guys. It was amazing having them. I would always find myself walking down the street to go see them. They welcome me in all the time. They always made it feel like home and he always made me feel special. He and another guy nickname me "mostly cloudy" because .......I was in the clouds in college for sure. I was young and naive and that was OK for them. I will surely miss him. The day before he died, on Facebook a group of us reminisce about the good old days and how we wish we could just go back and relive it for just a little bit. He said he would and I wish we all could...to see that big smile of his again.
All of us from those days made a cheer for him today through Facebook. Posting pictures of an alcoholic drink that we were having in his honor. Made me think about how life is going so fast and that death....is closer. But this time instead of fearing it, instead of pretending it's not there I will embrace it because after all it's inevitable. I will live to the fullest even when my kids are driving me crazy, even when life seems so hard, even when I feel like giving up...I will live. My boys are in their schools talent show and the song they are singing is called " I lived". Perfect anthem for me now.
So here is to Max...my neighbor Pat and my dear friends mom and dad.
Cheers!!!!
