Life is short QBQ

There are events that cause us to do some serious reflecting, aren’t there?

A gentleman the Millers knew passed away Saturday.

I can’t say he was my “friend,” since I’d only shaken his hand a few times. I do recall him standing in our rec room in May 2008 shooting pool at my 50th birthday party. I really only knew him because my wife, Karen, and his wife are friends—and have the same circle of friends. As often is the case, women have circles that are bigger and wider than their men, so it was through these relationships that Karen and others supported this man and his family during their struggle.

He was a nice guy in his forty’s, I think about 45. I really never knew him well, but what I do know is ALS hit him three to four years ago, and that “Lou Gehrig’s” disease—man, there’s just no stopping it.

It was a long, slow slide that ended over the weekend, with his best friend and young daughters at his bedside.

And now, a husband, a dad, a friend is gone.

Way too soon.

Life is funny when it comes to timing, isn’t it? And I don’t mean “ha ha” funny, but the ironic sort of funny. We’ve known of his illness since it began. Yet, about the same minute his pain ended and he moved on to a better place, our son, Michael, and his bride of three hours, Casey Mae, climbed into a limo for a fun ride heading toward a night in Denver before flying somewhere warm for their honeymoon.

An ending, a beginning. Maybe not as stark a contrast as a last breath and a baby’s birth, but pretty stark.

And it makes me think, and feel. This recent post on being thankful sums up some of my emotions—but there are more …

Such as, I’m so glad my best friend, Karen, is still by my side and I am still by hers. And 6-month-old “Becca Boo” is good! If you don’t know her story, read it here. Then there’s 3-year-old Josh, The First QBQ! Grandchild, who is as high-energy as ever. Tara, Miller Child #2, is “with child,” due in July and surely showing it. And, she and hubby, Justin, who fought in Fallujah, Iraq in 2007 and returned safely just moved to Colorado!

And there’s Molly, #4 in the Miller chain, age 22 and married to pastor-in-training, Ricardo, who performed Saturday’s ceremony. She’s so much like me we butt heads, but that’s okay, I’m just glad to have her around. And Kristin and Erik, busily building the little ones mentioned above. Lastly, the teens: Charlene, Jazzy, and Tasha. So full of life … and future.

It does this husband, father, and grandpa good to have them here for a few days, all under one roof. And it makes me think—hard.

“Life is short” is an axiom—a self-evident truth that requires no proof—we hear often and for the man now gone, it was too true. But there is another worth remembering:

Life is good.

So so good. Anyone want to disagree? I didn’t think so.

So, give someone you love a big squeeze. Do it for yourself, do it for them, and do it for the Colorado family left behind.

Then, go ahead and have an outstanding week—but before you do, share your thoughts and feelings in the Comments section below. We’d love to hear them.

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