My post today is not about jewellery, although I love pearls.
It's not about jewel boxes although the jewel of friendship is foremost in my thoughts.
And it's not about lace, although the fabric of life is one that like lace, sometimes looks delicate and yet is strong, or conversely can look strong, and yet have little weaknesses that become it's undoing.
I lost a friend last week.
Just seven days ago as of this very moment, 11:30am on a regular Thursday morning, my friend was going about her day with no inkling that she would not see another morning.
Very late that night, a blood clot that had formed in her leg, travelled to her lungs, and she drew her last breath. Nobody that knew her can believe that someone so full of life, can be gone in an instant.
She was not an elderly person and had every expectation that she had close to half a century left before she would be called to join her Mother and Grandmother in whatever lies beyond this life.
Since her passing I am obsessed with making my moments count, for what if I too, do not wake to see another day? We all think these things happen to 'someone else'. But sometime, somewhere it is us or someone we love dearly, that becomes a statistic.
If ever there were a time in my life where that old saying 'Live every day as if it were your last' held meaning, it is now. Look for the pearls in your day, and value them and cherish them. Today is all we have. Tomorrow is not yet come, and yesterday is gone and in the past and cannot be changed.
Today my 'pearls' will be...
Make a favourite meal
Listen to a favourite song
Surround myself with people I love and who love me equally in return
Buy a bunch of roses and make a little bouquet to lay on my friends casket
Eat an exotic fruit
Wear my wedding pearls which I save for 'good'
Remember my friend fondly
Walk in my garden
Look at old photos and remember good times
Hug my husband and daughter and tell them I love them
Ring my sons and their partners and do the same
Send my siblings a card to tell them how much they mean to me
What if I didn't wake tomorrow? Would I exit my life feeling it was a life well lived? I hope so.
What are the pearls in your life today?
Dearest Mimi, What a thoughtful well written post. It's true, everything that you have written here. There is a sense of shock, and awareness all rolled into one.
ReplyDeleteI think what you have said honours your friend in a most significant way, especially if it becomes one of those moments, where you visit and say " it was at that point, I became more aware of my blessings".
Love and Hugs, and thank you for your lovely wise words, Helen
Thankyou Helen. Today I feel honoured to be allowed another day in this life. I think tomorrow and the day after, I will feel the same. Yes, I am more aware of my blessings, and they are many. Love and hugs to you too. Mimi xxx
DeleteStrangely enough,Mimi when I was lying in bed last night I wondered if it would be my last night. The thought just came into my head. It does make you take stock of what is important. What a shock to lose your friend so suddenly! I hope her family is coping with losing her as well.
ReplyDeleteOh, my Mimi. Pearls indeed. What a treasure the memories of your friend are to you now. Thank you for this poignant reminder... pearls. Life is so brief.
ReplyDeleteHugs of comfort and love to you,
Kelley~
Mimi I wish I could be there to give you a hug - having been through this with my cousin (though not unexpected as such) I know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteLife is for living, it is for enjoying every moment and it is for doing what you truly enjoy.
Lynette
Yes, life is so incredibly painful at times and yet we keep putting one foot in front of the other..moving forward...striving to live our best lives..by example, teaching our children that no matter what happens along the way we will move quietly, with dignity, with passion. We hold out our hands to help each other....our arms to embrace each other. We are so very brave, so very beautiful, so magnificent! All of us!
ReplyDeleteMimi the other day I read someone said life is too short for egg white omelettes which is so true. This is so sad. I am so sorry for your loss and for her and her family.
ReplyDeleteThis is all a timely reminder to "make hay while the suns shines" and grasp the moment. xxx
Hi Mimi;
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your friends family. Life is but a vapor, here for a short time and than gone. I will be looking for the pearls in my day. Thank you for writing such a lovely post. Hugs, Nana
Mimi, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. You and her family are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteDear Mimi, I am so sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your friend. Thank you for the reminder to look for the pearls in each day. and to appreciate the wonderful gift of friends and family xx Fiona
ReplyDelete