It’s an interesting way to look at life; as if it is a piece of string and as you unroll it you don’t know when you will come to the end. That you don’t know how much is on the roll. When you pull at it and realize you are almost at the end. Or that you still have a lot of string left.
My trip to Western Canada has been such good reunion time. Lunches with colleagues I worked with 30+ years ago, with as you can imagine, so much to catch up on. Overnights with a high school friend, joined by yet another woman who I went to school with as far back as elementary school. Yes, that far back! And a week with a darling friend who I connected with in 1982 when I was still a relative newcomer to Edmonton and whom I have seen quite often over the years, happily prioritizing times to reunite. She and her husband provided me with a relaxing, quiet place to land with leisurely dog walks and super healthy meals. And still another old colleague, when she heard I was coming West, reached out to arrange a reunion. It couldn’t be when I first arrived as she was headed on her “trip of a lifetime”; with her 32-year-old only child daughter and her married forever husband they were flying to Barcelona to start a Mediterranean cruise which included a stop at The Vatican on Good Friday. Now even me in my lapsed Catholicism thought this was a pretty cool place to be at the start of the holiest of Christian religious weekends.
We were going to overlap back in Edmonton for only a few days; between her flying in and my driving out but she insisted she would be able to make time and in fact, already staked out time territory saying I was to come for lunch, and she would figure out a vegetarian meal with which to nourish me. I was touched that after all these decades I still figured high in her time priorities and eagerly anticipated much in person storytelling and catching up.
Well, this former colleague/friend died. Not only did she not make it to The Vatican on Good Friday she didn’t even make it on to the cruise, dying as she did on the flight to Europe. I was in horror at this news on so many levels; first of all, for her family who were with her. I can’t even imagine what this fatal mid-air medical emergency was like for them. And then to have to stay in Barcelona for a full week until all the paperwork could be done for her cremation and final flight back to Canada. Heartbreaking even just to think about. And second of all that she had actually described this trip as their trip of a lifetime…. And she didn’t get to do it. And third of all, how could someone who I finally had plans to meet up with no longer be alive? How could that be?? When she was brimming with enthusiasm and excitement, for her trip and for our reunion?
I thought a lot after this about life being like a piece of string, with no idea how long any of our strings are. Now I am not suggesting that I want to live as if my string is running out tomorrow. That could be a very shortsighted move indeed. And besides, my optimistic nature tends to think that there are decades left on my string. But what if there aren’t? What if all of that sugar consumption has poisoned my body and it’s going to catch up with me with some sort of ugh illness? Or I get into some unforeseen accident? Is there anything I would regret not having prioritized? Is there something I should be moving up the list just in case?
I think I am living my best, truest life but I assure you, I think about these things. And can tell you with much certainty, I am so glad that in my Western Canada wanderings I had the chance to catch up with all of the old colleague/friends that I did. Because I know this time it won’t be decades until I am back in Alberta for more visits, but I don’t know when it will be, and for sure I can’t take it for granted that one of our strings won’t have run out by then. I hope not. There are too many stories to share and much reminiscing to do. And always new memories to make.
From Surrey BC, where the cherry blossoms are gently falling to the ground, covering everything in their path like it is a dusting of snow,
A bientot! xo
Oh my.
No words.
Oh my goodness Michelle! So very sad….. we never do know how long our string is….
Take care xo
Michelle, your analogy totally fits the narrative. I was shocked to hear of her passing and I can only imagine what a shock it was to you.
❤️
Michelle. I am heartbroken for you, so very sorry and for your friend to say “ a trip of a lifetime “ just makes me feel so sad for her family. I am glad i had many adventures of a lifetime already and hopefully more to come
What can be said other than what you do eloquently said yourself. Live large and live with passion and intent. Hugs.
So sad! It definitely makes you think…
I’m so very sorry for your loss. None of us ever knows how long our string is. Hugs.
Your analogy of life as a piece of string seems so accurate. As I was telling you last week about my dad, he can see the end of his string and can’t believe he’s already there! So sad for your friends family.
That would be so hard; to see the end of the string and not be ready for it to run out. I saw that happen to a few friends with cancer and it was heartbreaking to witness; can’t imagine what it was like to live it.
What a shock to read of your friends passing. Unfortunately, her string came to an end but sadly unexpectedly 💔
Strings are short wayto often. Living today and no regrets that was our plan when we knew Peter’s was getting short. I am so sorry for your friends passing. Cherish every moment we are given. ❤️
So sorry for the loss of your friend. Sending hugs.
So sorry for the very sad passing of your friend Michelle 😢. I hope she passed in a state of joyous anticipation for her trip.
Oh Michelle, that is so heartbreaking. Take care my friend. Hugs.
I am sorry for the loss of your friend it is so sad to think she didn’t get to do her dream trip I like you am living my best life with no regrets yet!! So if my sting is shorter then I think, know I died happy 😊
Oh Michelle, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. You have a way of putting things into perspective in such a relatable way.
I hope you are enjoying all your reunions with friends. Stay safe!
What a tragedy for her and her family. So extremely sorry for the loss of your friend Michelle. 💔❤️
Awe Michelle, I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend. How sad.
Carry her in your ❤️