No Luggage Rack on the Hearse

R.I.P. JB. - Image by Vidiot via Flickr

Though I hadn't spoken to her much in the past twenty years, we'd grown up in the same neighborhood, so I considered her a friend, as did she of me. This week, 23 days short of her 40th birthday, I lost a friend to cancer.

Yet, I feel fortunate to have seen her last summer, mid-fight, at our 20th high school reunion. I knew that she'd debated whether she wanted to attend, and I heard that she was happy that she did, as was I.

The heart is an amazing thing. There are a few of our classmates that are fighting these battles, and a few more that have won them. For each, we send mountains of support--words, dollars that we can barely spare in the midst of our own rough bout with the economy, hugs, smiles--knowing that we can't get in the ring for them, only cheer as loudly as we can from the seats. It doesn't matter they we may have spoken to them once since we graduated--doesn't matter at all.

So today, we stand in a silent ovation as we wish a friend the best, wherever she may be. And we're reminded not to miss the reunion or the trip or the party... there's no luggage rack on the hearse... live your life to the fullest.

Hilariously OUT of Context

One of my favorite new blogs from a friend that I only met a year ago, but the memories that we've packed into that year feel like they've been alive for much, much longer. He writes things heard in his life that can be taken so out of context that they are absolutely hilarious.

For example, from me...

"Bob: I've got to get it to 10 inches and right now I'm at like 4."

Hilarious. Go visit "Always Curious," and become a fan.

What I want the world to be like (Part 2)

There was a section in the book, "What Kind of World Do You Want?" (see my review) that spoke about a grieving wife. Two different people attempted to console her, one by quoting scripture and the other simply sat silently by her side. The widow knew that the first was going through the motions, but the second was a surviving widow herself. It was the act of knowing and the presence of a survivor that made the difference. She asked the first to leave and allowed the second to stay by her side.

It was a compelling section to me because I recently experienced a friend who abruptly left her life to be at the side of an ex-boyfriend whose father had passed away unexpectedly. Even though they'd been apart for a year and weren't that great together, she dropped everything in her life to be by his side because she knew that her presence would make things better for him.

Her actions made me think... my initial thought found it strange for her to do such a thing. My second thought was that she'd have to be careful about the likelihood that he will try to re-attach himself to her. But in my third thought, which was triggered by the book I mentioned above, was the one that made the difference.

I asked myself, "What kind of world do I want?"

I want the kind of world where people are willing to leave their lives behind for the betterment of others.

Yes, yes I do.