There are times when the events of life pull you to a place of such clarity and lucidity where the other madness in life ceases to be. Such an event happened to me today, just seconds go. I am sitting in a laundromat and get a call from a friend who has cancer. That insidious monster that kills and steals and destroys. She has not been doing well. She has been for a long time and it seems a downward spiral has began. ”How long do you think you might have?”, I asked her as emotionless as I could. ”A few weeks to a few months. If I am here in three months I’ll have done really well”, she replied to me.
Off the phone and the tears begin. Weeks? 3 months is good? I have chosen to change my day. When my laundry is finished I will go to her house where we will have ice cream. I am sure we will celebrate and I will grieve, she may too. Their is great sorrow for me in this but also appreciation. I appreciate the times I get to be with my friend knowing that she may not be here much longer. It also brings me to appreciate others in my life who I probably have many years to share with. It makes the sweet things sweeter, the beautiful things more beautiful, and the meaning of life closer and more lucid.
I choose to embrace life more fully and be fearless in the face of sorrow and death and loss. I choose to love fully and deeply!
