Where do I begin? This week has been a rough week all around. Not necessarily for me personally, but for people around me. There have been, I think at last count, six deaths and funerals this week for people that I know or through friends know. Not to mention, the death of a hamster and a dog. AND it is only Thursday.

The age ranges are huge – spanning from a 99 year old man to a 38 year old man. Opposite sides of the spectrum. I can somehow rationalize the passing of a 99 year old man, as someone who has lived a full life, but a 38 year old man? That is a life not yet lived.

During the eulogy, it was mentioned that we are not only grieving for the life lost, but for the life not lived. All the dreams not yet realized and all the experiences not yet experienced. It was so sad. This being said, this young man was a Princeton and Harvard Graduate who was working at the UN. He travelled to Congo and all over the world. He lived life, but for 38 years, it was not a long enough life.

I also realized that friendship doesn’t know about time. I sat in a row with people I knew over 25 years ago. Some I have crossed paths with over the years, others not. Some crossed paths with the friend who passed, and some came because there was at time in our lives that we were everything to each other. We all went, and were all affected by his life and his passing. At least I can speak for myself about that.

Just to elaborate on that time in our lives, it was BBYO (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) that linked all of us together. It fostered friendships that obviously last a life time, as well as a strong sense of community and your part in it. It is as true today as it was 25 years ago when I was in the program. I still have friends today from that time, and I think will be in my life in some aspect always.

As I have said over and over this year, I have been faced with my own mortality and now a friend’s mortality. It is very hard to imagine ‘what if’ or ‘what happens next’ and who knows when that time comes, what it will be like. I just know that I want to hang on to what I have right now and not let go.