If I Had Done What I Said. . .

It happened again. One would think that one would learn that when one is telling others what to do, they would be practitioners of their  own counsel.

Recently (and on multiple occasions) Lloveletters encouraged you to “do it now.” Make that phone call, send that letter (or, if nothing else, an email), make that visit. Ask that individual to have lunch with you and then have them over, or pay the tab at a local restaurant. Do something other than just ignoring the opportunity to reach out to a long time friend you have limited, or lost, contact with, or a needy person in your community, or anyone who is dealing with life-threatening circumstances, recognizing that situations change and probabilities become realities.

I had been telling my lovely bride that I needed to take a friend who has “stage four” cancer to lunch, or at least “meet up” and talk about the good times we shared together. I would do it soon, I told her, next week for sure. I would be less busy, and find the time.

I got the call on Friday night. It was his daughter. He had fallen, he was in Hospice care, and the end was very near.

One week too late. One day too late. One opportunity wasted, missed, gone forever.

If only. . . .