Was going through a few friend requests and saw a mutual friend I’d not heard from in years. She was cute, a baton twirler in band, a cashier at Winn Dixie. I’d bag for her just to make small talk. I asked her to prom a week too late. Wonder what she’s up to now, I thought as I clicked her link.
I was shocked and saddened to land on her memorial page. My friend from band and Winn Dixie had slipped away “after a long courageous fight” on a bleak January day in Austin, TX at the age of 58.
Unbidden, the Carpe Diem scene from Dead Poet’s Society came to mind. Did she have a good life? Did she get at least a few bucket list items checked? A few what ifs came to mind. We come to forks in the road and sometimes have very little time to choose. With astonishing speed, 40 years goes by and we find ourselves awake as the world sleeps, pondering questions better left unanswered.
Farewell, my friend. I hope life was kind to you.
