Requiem

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.