Don’t Wait #105
Don’t wait. Though most of us live in the comfort of daily denial, life is terminal for everyone.
When the “surprise” of death happens, it’s never convenient or when you’d expect it. It just happens. For those of us who’ve been through it several times with family and friends, it reopens old wounds others don’t share.
This week, on the Fourth of July, one of our clients and dear friends died. We found out a few days after the fact. It was unexpected and launched our family into a sobering reality of dialogue, emotions and truth-telling.
He was a great person, has left a legacy and impacted anyone he spent time with favorably. He and his multi-generation company serve their customers and employees with dignity and care. He loved music and often sent me articles and information on things he knew would benefit me, my business or impact my travels. We both traveled and loved music, each had a daughter named Alexandra and he called my husband Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” based on our conversations about him.
I held the utmost respect for him as a friend, businessman and colleague. He was a generous soul and a connector of people. On several occasions he invited Kevin and I out to events (usually involving good food and music) and always included others from his circle to facilitate mutual benefit personally and professionally for all of us. He coordinated it, set up his guests with tidbits of information to begin great dialogues and enjoyed watching the magic he coordinated happen.
Mourning is a strange experience. It heightens your senses to all the good, kind, admirable moments and qualities of the person you’ve lost while you’re feeling melancholy, somber and deep sadness. The gratitude and goodness lessen the sting of loss, while leaving you with a pit of void to reconcile in your world.
Our conversation last night was about seizing the moment. Life is short. Don’t wait.
I will miss my friend and colleague Richard Murphy. He’s someone who left indelible fingerprints on many lives, mine included.
Categories: Sue's Daily Blog
