Here today, gone tomorrow
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
August 28, 2012 11:06pm CST
I know that I posted over the weekend about going to a charity auction for a friend of ours that was suffering from ALS. We had a good time at the auction and Jaime looked really good and was having a really good time and in a good mood.
Yesterday (Monday) evening I got a call from another friend of ours and she was in tears when I answered the phone. She was calling to let me know that Jaime had passed away yesterday afternoon. He had experienced a heart attack and despite efforts for heroic measures, they were not able to bring him back.
Of course I kicked myself in the tail that I didn't have more time to talk to Jaime at the auction since it was the last time that I ever got to see him. However, it also reminded me that we should never take anything in life for granted because we never know if today will be the last day that we have.
As I go forward in my life, I will never forget to tell those people that I love how I feel about them and I will try not to take things in my life for granted anymore.
Have you ever experienced something like this in your life that really is a harsh reality? Have these experiences been something that really has made a change in your life? Do you let those people that you care about know that you love them?
And finally, to all of my mylot friends, you are all more important in my life than you will probably ever realize.
3 people like this
8 responses
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
29 Aug 12
hi dear dorannmwin sorry for the sudden loss of your friend. Its hard to cope with situations like this, and we all have to endure such situations sooner or later in life.
That charity auction was a great idea and I bet it meant a lot to Jaime that people care so much about him to set up this event.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Aug 12
I am sure that it meant a lot to him because of the fact that he was able to spend time with friends and family. They also had cards that many people filled out for him to enjoy after the auction and I would be willing to bet that reading those cards on Sunday evening meant a lot to him as well.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
31 Aug 12
I wish that when Tom was going through his treatments last year that there would have been someone that would have sent him encouraging notes every so often. You know, I was there with him all the time, so my words of encouragement really didn't seem to mean as much to him. However, on those odd times that we did get a letter or get well card from someone in the mail, it did seem to make his day a little bit brighter.
Now, the odd thing about that is that all of the letters and cards came from either or mutual friends or from members of my family. It seemed like his family didn't care about him at all, the only time that they (excluding his parents and siblings) ever communicate with him is when they want something from him.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
30 Aug 12
thats such a great ideas with the cards for Jamie, he sure enjoyed reading them. I did something like this for a friend of mine who went through cancer therapy the second time around. It was for 30 days and she had told me before if she will feel too weak from it she will quit. So I sent her an encouraging letter or card for every day of these 30 days to help strengthen her through this hard time.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Aug 12
Watching my son go through life, struggling to get to do everything he can, I have learned not to take what we can do for granted. Be thankful that we can get around and do day to day things without depending on anyone. He has showed me you have to make the best out of your life, and enjoy the people and life in general. He is always so happy. My sister passed away at age 19, in a car accident. It was an eye opener to not take life for granted. I try to live each day as if it may be my last.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Aug 12
Really, I have to admit that the time in my life when I started trying to life my life as if every day was the last day of my life was last year when Tom was diagnosed with cancer. It was really an eye-opener for me. As far as really believing that today could be the last day that I am here, that is something that really is a lot harder to swallow and accept.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
29 Aug 12
Thoroughrob:
Probably I am seeing your response for the first time. sorry to hear the demise of your sister in car accident at the age of 19. Probably she has achieved in 19 years what others take a longer time to achieve.
I am moved by your words: "I try to live each day as if it may be my last." very true.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
29 Aug 12
I feel the same about our mylot friends....and miss them when I am gone too long or one of them disappears. I do tell my family etc. that I love them whenever I get a chance....like you said you never know when the last time you will see them...so don't take it for granted!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Aug 12
I believe that my sister-in-law thinks that it is strange that I always tell my mother, brother, sister and nieces that I love them when I talk to them on the phone or when I see them in person. However, those are some of the people that I cherish the most in the world and I would not ever want to have to go through life with the regret of thinking that they didn't know that I loved them.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
31 Aug 12
I am sorry to hear of your loss, and I know how you feel. A few years ago my mom passed away. Growing up I knew that it could happen at any moment, that she could pass away without a moment's notice. Even so I didn't spend as much time as I should have with her, I didn't tell her I loved her enough.
When she passed away it was an early morning in January, or that's when we found out. We think she passed the afternoon / evening before. I remember how I felt when I got the call, and to this day (like right now) there are times I just tear up and miss her so much.
Though I know she is always with me in my heart, it's hard to think that I never did get to properly say good bye, that I didn't call her when I said I would...
My uncle passed away a year or two after that, and my brother three years prior. You truly never know when someone's time is up, but It can be sometimes so hard to just say "I love you".. We take life for granted too much.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
7 Sep 12
I am a very proud person.
And sometimes I fear that this pride of mine would prevent me from telling a few people around me how I really feel about them. And I fear that one day, I'd wake up and realize that I'm too late.
It's really difficult, but I'm trying.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
8 Sep 12
I do believe that it sometimes is our pride that does keep us from telling those people that we really care about that we do care about them. I've made it my personal mission in life to make sure that everyone that I care about knows how deeply that I do care about them.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
29 Aug 12
Oh that was sad and yes we should not take life for granted and should not delay in telling the person that you love them so much. There is nothing to lose here. I have experienced this when my Uncle (Dad's Brother) had passed away and I felt very bad. We must live life today because we don't know what will happen the next second. Every second is precious.
Thanks Dorannmwin, I feel the same like you, Since I have known mylot I have here most of the time and I love interacting with all mylotters. You all mean to me a lot too. Have a wonderful day ahead. 
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Aug 12
I actually can say that I did have a pretty good day today because of the fact that I did have the opportunity to spend some time with my mother, siblings and nieces and I did make sure to tell them that I love them because I hadn't gotten to see them since Monday.
@shaggin (71655)
• United States
29 Aug 12
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. It must have come as quite a shock to hear about his passing. We have regrets sometimes after people die but you couldnt know he was going to have a heart attackand die. Since it was the last time you would ever see him I wish you could have had more time to spend with him but theres no going back now so try not to let it bother you too much.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
29 Aug 12
Often it takes things like this to wake us up. As I get older and older I am each day reminded of how short time can be. with each and every one I meet or talk to during the day, I try to treat them as though it was the last time. I leave their presence in peace no matter how heated the conversation was, being right is no longer a goal, rather the value of each person is the gift I have been given. Blessings
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Aug 12
It actually reminds me of one of the greatest gifts that my mother has ever given to me. That was some advice that she gave me to never go to bed angry with someone. She said to always work your conflicts out before sleeping because that way you know that you won't have that hanging over your head tomorrow.
