Weebug Knits

It was a retrospective type of weekend. It was marked by the annual Epiphany Pagent at our church, and once again the kids did a spectacular job. That in itself isn't usually enough to make me retropective, but this year was different.

There is always the assumption that there will be another day. There have been a few instances in my life where it has has been pointedly brought to my attention that this may not be the best approach where people are concerned. The first instance was at the tender age of eight, when one of my best friends was killed in a house fire. One day she was at school, and the next there was a lonely pair of boots and a sad pink sweater hanging on the hook that bore her name, her desk poignantly deserted. My heart was broken by confusion and loss in a time where grief counselors were un-heard of in the public school venue of the time.

I was once again reminded that death does not take a holiday a few years ago. I saw someone that I once knew in college, sitting on a bench outside the hospital where I work. I was reluctant to make my car pool partners wait for me so I did not take much longer than a wave of recognition as I passed by. I was blissfully unaware if her health condition, so I was rather shocked to see her name in the obituaries a couple of months later. Not taking the time to do more than wave has haunted me since. An opportunity had presented itself, and in an instant the door was closed.

The epiphany pagent this past weekend was in honor of a young developmentally challenged woman in our church who passed away on Christmas Eve. Margy loved the church school kids and often hung out with them and the idea for this years pagent was hers. She had a child like quality about her and I did not take the time to get to know her because I was somewhat uncomfortable when I was around her. I should not have been, but ashamedly I was. I kept saying to myself that the next time I saw her I would put aside my comfort zone and spend some time with her. Now I will never have that opportunity.

I try not to take life and living for granted. But I often do.