The death of a close friend, if not best friend, is just as hard as losing a parent.
Five years ago, my best friend died suddenly of a massive heart attack. She had called me at work the day before the heart attack happened. I didn't take the call because I was too busy working on a massive bid that was due in a week. The next day her daughter called me to tell me the bad news and that she was on life support that was going to be disconnected that day.
I immediately left work and went to the hospital to say my goodbyes. She was brain dead, but when I picked up her hand and started talking, her heart rate went up. At least I was able to tell her how much I loved her and what she meant to my life. Did she hear me and understand? I'll never know while walking this earth, but I REGRET not taking her call the day before.
So much in my life has happened in the last five years that I would love to talk to her about, but she's not there to pick up the phone anymore.
Since that time, my mother and father have both passed away. Two more people I could talk to about anything and everything. It leaves you feeling lonely and empty at times. Opi...I know where you are coming from. I'd rather lose material things than to loose the people you really care about.
It has taught me one thing though....look at every one of your friends and family when you see them like it is the last time you will see them, because you never know.
I grew up in a generation where parents didn't tell you everytime they saw you that they loved you. You just knew! I tell my kids and grandkids and my sister and nephew everytime I see and talk to them, that I love them. It means as much to me saying it as they hearing it.
Liefe is short. One day I was twenty something and now I am fifty something.
on April 1, 2011, 2:51 pm, in reply to "