On the night of September 30, my mother called to tell me her aunt — my great aunt — died at 7:38 that evening.
My great aunt was 96 years old. She has been in an assisted living facility for twenty years, and for all of that time, she has been wishing herself “eternal rest”— making our years with her as miserable as she was.
It was clear that she was not pleased with the way things have unfolded for her. Her life held no mystery, pleasure, or joy. Life only held pain and discomfort for her. Memories of the past didn’t help, because even the past added to her discontentment…
No, she was not happy with her lot in life…
Toward the end, she was in and out of the hospital — internal bleeding coming from some unknown source.
After this last visit, she was discharged to rest comfortable in her own bed.
I went by my 86-year-old mother’s the following morning, to see if she needed anything from me and to make sure she was emotionally OK.
Mom seemed relieved that her aunt had finally gotten her wish. She was taking everything is stride, making funeral arrangements and such. She appreciated my help, but she had everything under control.
That evening, I took a leisurely walk around my neighborhood. It was the first cool night of the Florida fall season. The sun was just setting, and a light breeze was blowing through the trees.
It was just too precious to waste, so I put on my sneakers and headed off into the sunset.
Someone was grilling steaks outside; kids were riding their bikes and scooters; couples were walking hand-in-hand down the street; a group was playing touch football; and families were walking their dogs.
I passed one house where a couple was still working on their flowerbed. At another home, an elderly gentleman was enjoying his cigar on the porch. There were no cell phones or iPods to be seen or heard.
No, everyone was just enjoying the sunset, the breeze, and the beginning of a new season…
The evening’s walk reminded me to enjoy every moment — no matter how ordinary the moment seems — because, sooner or later, the simple pleasures of life will be taken from us…
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