Last week, we spent a few days in Maine visiting friends and family. On Thursday night, my sister-in-law Anne prepared and served a delicious Maine dinner with her signature crab cakes and other seafood delights.

We had a very pleasant visit, a treat for all of us (Rich, his sister Betsey, brother Mark and wife Anne). I say that it was a treat because our visits are few and far between. Life seems to get in the way of 8-hour drives, no matter how much you enjoy the company.

Last Thursday night was special and will remain special for the rest of my life. You see, Anne died on Friday a week and a day after that special meal. A massive stroke took her from us-too soon in my opinion, but I have found that my opinion matters little in the matter of death.

There was little hope of survival from the moment she collapsed on Tuesday afternoon. The hospital made her comfortable and the family, Mark and his son Tim and Betsey, kept the bedside vigil until she left this earthly plane on Friday.

When I saw her for dinner, she looked beautiful, full of life and humor as was her usual personality. She had prepared this wonderful dinner. She cleaned up and was preparing for her next day’s stint at the local Soup Kitchen which meant a day of meal preparation for the clients. No one would have predicted that next week would bring such sorrow for our family.

Now, I am not naïve about death, however Anne’s death illustrated how fragile our time on earth is. And how little control that we have over it. We had no time to prepare for her departure; no time to make amends for any transgressions; no time for a final laugh or last word of appreciation for times well spent. There is a lesson here about the preciousness of each moment that we have with our loved ones or even those whom we don’t like very well. Savor them and do not create regrets. I am glad that our farewell was heartfelt. While we didn’t know that it was a final good-bye, I have no regrets.

 Anne’s goodness and compassion for her fellow travelers was evident in everything that she did-from her career in the classroom with special education students to her volunteer activities with the Jail Reentry Center and the Soup Kitchen. One winter, she talked me into knitting winter hats for her students.

I will miss her, her family will miss her, the whole community will miss her because we are the ones who are still. However, I know that she is in the loving company of our God, who continues to love her unconditionally, just as He loves you.

Terri