Life, Death and Things in Between

One of the most difficult messages you could ever give to a friend (or anybody) is "Happy Birthday" and "Condolences" at the same time.

I had to do that thrice-- for friends/classmates Juvie, Eulah, and Jhay who lost a mom/dad just before their birthdays.

It was never easy.

Of course, I could always easily say it from the most comforting and sympathizing words to the most common "Be strong" and "Everything's gonna be okay".  Then, I'd realize that it wouldn't be as easy as that, especially when I put myself inside their shoes.

How could we celebrate life when one of the people who became a reason for our birth had lost it?

Yes, that makes sense.  But don't we think it sounds hopeless and pathetic?  The more we feel that way, the more doomed we may get.

Things like these are life's ways of reminding us that it's not a perfect world, that beginnings and endings are born twins -- and we have to live in between. That the most that people in our lives could be with us is while there is life.  The only way to make them stay after death is to put them in our hearts.

In the end,  it's not about beginnings and endings.  It is what we do and have in between.

Seize every moment! Cherish life.