Over too soon

You never know when it’s going to happen. Justin told me about his parents going for a walk down the street. They’d done the walk hundreds, thousands of times over the years. It was their nightly ritual. A short stroll down through the village before bed.

Except this time was different. A man driving along had a diabetic fit. His car swerved to the sidewalk and collected Justin’s parents. Justin’s father went over the top of the car whilst his mother went underneath. She died instantly. And just like that. She was gone. One moment taking a stroll she’d done many times before, the next, where the rest of us will eventually end up.

She was 52 years old. Still young. I asked Justin, how old were you? 26 he said. That’s how old I am now.

He told me how good things were going. I was driving along in a convertible, working a good job, thinking, hey this is really good he said. Then later that night, I got a phone call and everything changed.

Listening to Justin put things into perspective. Reminded me how easy it is to to forget. Easy to take things for granted. Easy to get angry at a loved one and leave forgetting it could be the last time you see them.

You never know when it’s going to happen.

Tell your people you love them.

I love you.