Before and forever after...


Sometimes there are big moments in life that make big and small changes that permeate through societies and will even effect generations. September 11, 2001 was made up of such moments.

We all know that a sudden accident, winning the lottery, being diagnosed with a disease...all these moments forever change a person's life. It also changes the ones whose lives are interconnected.

It has been said that it often takes something dramatic to make us realize how precious life is and/or how important someone is to us.

My dearest friend, he calls himself my Palsy Walsy, has just been diagnosed with Cancer. Despite the fact that I am frightened at the thought of anything grievous happening to him. Despite the fact that I wish I could go through the treatments and save him the suffering. Hearing that he has a battle ahead of him, that he has cancer, didn't make me come to a sudden realization of how important he is. I knew it before the diagnosis and I know it now.

If we could come to appreciate the value of the people in our lives. If we could come to appreciate how fortunate we are to live in the United States. If we could appreciate how precious life is and not waste a day. Then maybe before and forever after we would live our lives with unbridled enthusiasm and unconditional love.

Now that would be happily ever after.