I am in a reflective mood today as I write my monthly newsletter article. Today would have been my sister Laura’s 54th birthday. Unfortunately, she passed away many years ago at the age of nineteen from cancer. This is not meant to be a sad article, but an article reflecting on “mortality.”
My “mortality” started when I was twenty-one years old and watching my youngest sister pass away from a ten-year batt
le with cancer. I realized back then that life was precious, and we should not take it for granted!
Lately, I have had to deal with “mortality” again with the passing of my mother a few years ago and my father a few months ago. The second death hit me much harder than the first death of my parents for some reason. I think maybe because it happened right before Father’s Day, and it was the first major holiday that I had no parents!
Having no parents has been much harder than I thought it would be. It is the trivial things that I miss most – the daily phone calls on the ride home from work with my father and the crazy conversations I would have with him. Additionally, I have had several friends my age come down with severe illnesses as well that has caused me to reflect further on life. 
What I have realized most is that family is the most important thing! Work is work…it will always be there, and no one cares when you die how much you “worked.” Family is what matters in life. Your spouse, kids, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Your greatest memories should be with your family, not with work!
My father never missed any of my sporting events as a kid…and there were a lot of sporting events for me! We always tried to have dinner together, even if he came home late from work to catch up on the day. He made it a point to let me know that family is what matters most!
To this day, I have never missed any of my daughter or son’s sporting events or other major milestones if possible! Every morning when I walk out the door I always say “Love you” to my wife, as you never know when it might be your last time. Remember, I suffered a massive heart attack in the pool at 48 years old, so I know what I am talking about.
The point is this, remember what is “important” in your life and do not lose track of that before it is too late. As always, be safe and live well!