From The Editor
Endings and New Beginnings
As December comes and goes, taking with it the old year and bringing us to the beginning of a new one, I can’t help but think of those friends and family who are no longer with us.In recent months I have lost several close friends and family members. And while I know it is inevitable that as I age the more commonplace this trend will become, I still find it hard to take, indeed hard to believe. After all, I’m not that old — and neither were my friends.
Nonetheless, I have recently had to say goodbye to my father-in-law, my sister-in-law-to-be and three longtime college buddies. Only I didn’t actually get to say goodbye to any of them. One moment they were here, the next they were not.
My most recent loss came as we were putting the finishing touches on the November issue of Senior Times. A freakish accident took the life of a friend I’ve known for 25 years. He was only 57. Fortunately I had nearly finished my work when I received the tragic news, because afterward I could not concentrate. I thought about my buddy and the last time I had seen him. A few days prior to his death I had nearly picked up the phone to call him. But at the last minute I remembered the answer to what I needed to ask of him, so I didn’t bother to call. Now I wish I had.
How often we forget to say little words of kindness even when they are on the tip of our tongue. And how many of us kick ourselves for the things we did not say — or perhaps the things we did say — during that final visit?
I made a mental note to be more attentive to my friends and family. At the last big gathering of my old buddies — which happened to be for a funeral — we vowed that our next get-together would be for far better reasons. We did not stay true to our word. But many of us did meet to celebrate our friend’s life, and we found ourselves laughing and crying and remembering the good times.
Now, even while I suffer my losses, I must remember to count my abundant blessings. Yes, I am saying goodbye to some, but I am also saying hello to many others.
In November we welcomed our second granddaughter into the world. In fact, even while I felt besieged by the Reaper, babies were being born everywhere I looked.
Not only did our daughter have a baby, but so did my brother-in-law and his beloved. Two new lives were welcomed into the Tower family as well. In addition to this baby fest, other close friends shared with me the joyous news of their new babies. Life goes on.
While I can’t help but think of endings, it is time to focus on the blessings brought by these many new beginnings as I welcome the new year. And perhaps this time I will pick up the phone and make some calls.
Happy Holidays!