Life lesson....

Today I am heading to central Oregon to attend a 

memorial service for a wonderful man who I had

the privilege of calling a friend and mentor.

It's a sad pause during an otherwise joyous season.

Life has a funny way of bringing people into your life.

I met this friend, who passed away on Thanksgiving day,

when he became my boss. I was about 25 years old,

recently married and relatively new in my career -

he had four children and a wonderfully kind wife and was older than my

dad.  An unusual and perhaps unlikely friendship.  Our 

lives and careers went in different directions but

coincidently both our families ended up in Portland, Oregon.

His family included my husband and I in celebrations

and holiday dinners  - when we did not have family

on the west coast.  Before I had children, I always looked

to this family and thought, "I hope I can be as good

a parent as this J_____ and T____".  Despite a significant

age difference we remained family friends and

when I had children this man became almost like

another grandfather to my children.

My friend struggled with COPD the last couple

years and it unfortunately ended his life on Thanksgiving

evening after he enjoyed a meal with his wife, three of his

grown children, their spouses and many of

his grandkids.

My friend/mentor taught me one last valuable lesson

before he died.  And I am sharing this, not because I want

your support or sympathy, but because it is a lesson

so valuable and obvious that it must be shared as a reminder

to ALL of us - especially during this season.

About 10 days before he died, my friend called my

cell phone.  I was not available to take the call.

I thought to myself, I need to call him back......

But life got busy, with what I don't know?

I did not return the phone call.

It's something I will always regret.

So in this season of 'busy', don't forget

to make room for the important, the small

gestures, the meaningful.