It has been 4 weeks since my little girl, Pumpkin, left this world. The grief, though still overwhelming at times, has abated enough for me to gaze at her pictures and remember all the happy times. She taught me so much in our too short 5 years together about love, loyalty, forgiveness. She was my support during times when I was so discouraged I didn't want to go on...
Not surprisingly then, she has taught me so much by her death. She was only 7 when she suddenly died, and my biggest despair was that I had thought we would have at least another 5 years together. I struggled to accept that her life was so fragile and that it ended so unexpectedly. I had finally come to peace with this fact - then a lightening bolt hit me...
I was driving when suddenly I realized that my life is just as fragile as hers was!!!
I have been living as if another 40 or 50 years of life were almost guaranteed to me.
The sudden understanding that my life or the life of my sons could end just as unexpectedly has been a turning point for me. I have had a tendency to take for granted time with loved ones as if I could control its length...
I am striving to fully live and enjoy each day that I am given on this earth, accepting the fact that I have little knowledge of how much time is left. I no longer sit thru TV shows that really don't interest me, except Survivor of course!!
I am calling friends and family who I have neglected and spend time enjoying the sunshine and other pleasures that I used to take for granted.
I have been taught these things by the wisest, most loving creature I have ever known and I look forward to holding her in my arms forever when my life here is completed....

Hi Runningplace,
Good point. I went to the funeral Saturday of a woman I had grown up with. She was 42, killed in a car wreck last Tues. when the driver of a truck headed her way fell asleep at the wheel on his way to work (he had been up late the night before visiting his girlfriend in the hospital and was way overtired). Wow, she had everything to live for. Of course, she is in bliss now, but those of us left behind had no way to imagine how short her life here would be...
Thanks for sharing. Your Pumpkin is a wise soul!
Little Girl's Mommy, Kathy

Something we all seem to forget is that its not the length of time we have with them but the quality of the time spent with them.

Love Sue

It's like I keep saying.... Enjoy the sunshine on your face, the wind in your hair - enjoy the birds chirping, the children screaming and the dogs barking...

Our furry ones lived for every moment - we really should do the same. We may be joining them any moment. How terrible it would be if our time ended and we had missed a moment of sunshine.

My friend Ron passed away at 25. My furbabies at 8 years of age each. Although life sometimes seems to suck, it's still life - and our outlook is what makes each moment either "bad" or "an experience".