The Fragility of Life...

Every now and then, there is a reminder of how precious and fleeting life can be. Yesterday, I was grumpy that I was running late for the Weight Watcher meetings that I lead on Tuesdays. I was down in the basement getting the tune Y.M.C.A loaded on to my iPod for the tie-in to how you can dance the pounds off, when suddenly there was a pounding on my side door. My neighbour was there with the tears streaming down her face because her husband had suddenly collapsed with some kind of seizure and she couldn’t turn him on his side as 911 had recommended. She is recovering from her own surgery not that many weeks ago. I raced over to do what I could and stayed until the fire and ambulance arrived. This afternoon, I learned that it was a massive brain hemorrhage and that he had passed away in his 40s.

My neighbour and I come from very different walks of life and backgrounds... and yet my heart goes out to her for her loss. Erin and her daughter are in the same class at school. It is far too easy for Erin to imagine what it would be like if something happened to Nick.

After a full day of teaching Kindergarten and having my legs hugged, I am also reminded of how much joy there can be in life as well. Working as a supply teacher is reminding me of just how deeply kids live in a state of wonder and learning. We would to well to learn from them!

It really is a wonderful and fearful cyclical dance we do through time as human beings. Perhaps it takes reminders now and then not to take anything for granted and to make the most of each moment!