• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sudden Write Turn Freelance Writing

Word magic

  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Workshopping
  • Portfolio
    • Blogging
    • Business Communication
    • Literary Journalism
    • Website Content
    • Workshopping
    • Memory Lane
  • My Blog
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Workshopping
  • Portfolio
    • Blogging
    • Business Communication
    • Literary Journalism
    • Website Content
    • Workshopping
    • Memory Lane
  • My Blog
  • Contact

Requiem

November 6, 2011 //  by Terra Osterling

Our modern society of email, social networking and smartphones allows us unprecedented opportunity for connection. When we log on to look up movie times or read the latest news, post a new status or comment on a friend’s status, send a text message or read email on the go, we do so to connect to another human being. So I ask myself, how is it that with this mountain of opportunity to connect to people that I was able to miss my chance to talk to someone one…last…time?

A family member died last night. Someone who I do not spend a lot of time with, but whose company I completely enjoy at family gatherings over the course of each year. A sweet, thoughtful girl who gracefully endured life-long health issues.

She had been in the hospital recently for a typical, non-alarming “maintenance” visit, and I thought that I should send her a text just to say, “Hey, hope to see you soon.” When will I learn to do just that when I think of it, instead of writing it on my to-do list and then crossing off “laundry” instead of “reach out to a human being”?

It is nearly criminal when I consider how much opportunity I squander. All it would have taken is a few shuffles of my thumbs. I cheated myself, and she quietly left us.

If you’re reading this, you have a window on the world and likely a means to contact, instantly, nearly everyone you know. If it crosses your mind to peck out a short hello to someone, do it.

Because it seems to me if you can, you should.

I will miss you, sweet girl.

Share

Category: Inspiration

Previous Post: « Halloween Carving
Next Post: One »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. teresa wood

    February 3, 2013 at 3:51 PM

    I REALLY miss face to face, and thanks for the reminder. Every single time I have acted impulsively and reached out to encourage someone, I have never been sorry. Most of the time it has been welcomed, but even when I was reprimanded or dismissed, I always walked away knowing that I did what I was supposed to do. Gaining insight is always good in the end.

    • suddenwriteturn

      February 5, 2013 at 4:33 PM

      Agreed. It is always better to reach out. Always.

  2. Grace Lazzara

    November 7, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Wow, this really made me think, Terra. Thanks for writing it.

    • suddenwriteturn

      November 7, 2011 at 10:01 PM

      // It is a lesson that I seem destined to re-learn again and again, but I think it’s time I try to break the cycle… Hi Grace! I love hearing from you! / /

Trackbacks

  1. Popular: Viral without the vaccine | Sudden Write Turn says:
    February 3, 2013 at 3:17 PM

    […] a post really catches on. Posts about babysitting my nephews are usually big hits. This post about loss struck a chord, and this post about bagging groceries along with this post about being a bad guitar […]

Primary Sidebar

Stories are best told over snacks or beverages.

Let’s “Zoom” to find out what it might be like to work together. At the very least, we can swap a few good stories.
CONTACT ME

LEARN ABOUT WORKSHOPPING

Subscribe

Occasional blog posts and monthly newsletters delivered to your inbox!

My Recent Posts

Decade

February 25, 2022 By //  by Terra Osterling

Playground Revolution

October 18, 2021 By //  by Terra Osterling

“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”

October 5, 2021 By //  by Terra Osterling

Contact

585.314.8555
terra@suddenwriteturn.com

Sudden Write Turn Freelance Writing

Footer

Subscribe

Occasional blog posts and monthly newsletters delivered to your inbox!

Links

About Me
Work With Me
Award Winning Essay
My Blog
Contact

Portfolio

Blogging
Business Communication
Literary Journalism
Website Content
Workshopping

Privacy Policy
Sudden Write Turn Freelance Writing

Search

Copyright © 2023 Sudden Write Turn Freelance Writing · All Rights Reserved · Site by TechCreative, LLC

Scroll Up