A Fall of Gratitude

I have been having a rather magical autumn filled with travel and some guilt-free self-indulgence.

My sweetheart and I took a sunshine getaway the first week of November, to a resort that was quiet but lovely with terrific food and a beautiful beach. Last week, I spent four nights with my best girlfriends in Jamaica, on a spur-of-the-moment trip so one of us could use up her (very generous) vacation time for the year. Tonight, I have a rather expensive ticket to a concert in Toronto. I think the last big concert I went to was The Grateful Dead in Hamilton in 1993, so I may not quite know how to 'do' a concert properly, especially since P!nk will take the stage well after my usual bed-time.

No, we didn't win a lottery, at least not in the way one usually thinks of it.

In the last seven or eight months, I have received pieces of news about friends and acquaintances that have led me to make some changes in my life. I'm being more careful about my time, and less worried about lot of other things.

First off, I looked up an old friend from my days in Toronto, only to find out he is going through a terrifying and horrible ordeal; his wife diagnosed with cancer as she gave birth to their first child. Imagine, the joy of a healthy baby and fifteen seconds later, whap! a five-year survival rate of about 20 percent.

Secondly, a woman I was friends with but with whom I had lost touch recently passed away at less than 50 years old. This girl was funny and fun and had survived some very serious health issues. Her marriage didn't survive, though, and some of the people I've been talking to say she died of a broken heart.

More recently, one of the most talented craftsmen I know, a man who saved my sanity when I was in big, big trouble a few years ago, was diagnosed with ALS. It's devastating to see him lose the use of his amazing hands and heartbreaking to imagine the conversations he is being forced to have with his wife and kids and the rest of his family.

And so, when I walk my dog, when I am stirring the sauce, when I am discussing my plans for Christmas, no matter what I'm doing, these people are nearby, their stories silently keeping me aware of how quickly time passes, how important it is to cherish the people you love. Their situations remind me to be sure I make the most of every day, to say YES (and NO), to give back, to be aware, to take the vacation. Because (and yes, I know this is a cliche...) you just never know what's next and you only get one turn in the game of life; best not to miss it.