24 Comments
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Kristin Rapinac's avatar

Lovely piece, Lynda. A timely reminder to treasure every fleeting second of this beautiful life.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Kristin, Thank you. Yes, it goes by awfully fast.

MARYJO KASZUBINSKI's avatar

Lynda thank you for sharing as I am dealing with my husbands decline from Pancreatic Cancer and we too love Maui and have spent many vacations there. This past year has been a challenge for me a doer creative who has had to settle for more being during his treatments and hospitalizations. I love your sharing of gratitude and grief together and will include it in my daily intentions for this year. When we communicate and share we never know who or how many we influence or impact.

Lynda Heines's avatar

MaryJo, Thank you for reading. I’m sorry for what you are going through. It was a very emotional piece for me to write, but it’s something we all have to face and I have to remember. Sending you loving thoughts.

Ray Hayes's avatar

You are awesome! So well written. Love you.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Ray, Thank you. Love you too!

Jim Warford's avatar

A wonderful story. With lessons worth learning.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Jim, Thanks.

Jane Chapman's avatar

Lovely story. Yes that feeling of needing to make the most of life while you still can. Something I am very aware of

Lynda Heines's avatar

Jane, Thank you. Yes, this last birthday really hit me more than the others.

David Hames's avatar

Awesome job telling this story!

Lesley Riley's avatar

Beautiful. Thank you.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Lesley, Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Lisa Maguire's avatar

A good reminder…in a heavenly place.

Karla VF Staudt's avatar

We have close friends who have recently walked a similar path that touches us at our core. Although not Maui, we have a special place at the beach that we love visiting on a regular basis. The knowledge that it one day it won't be possible makes us cherish and enjoy it all the more now, and we are grateful for that each time we head in that direction.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Karla, Thanks for reading and commenting. I felt my conversation with him was to remind me again to be grateful for right now.

Marian Beaman's avatar

Very poignant story, Lynda. We never know what's going on behind the scenes in anyone else's life. Thanks for providing a window into another person's world--and your own.

Now I'm more eager than ever for our cruise vacation in April! :-D

Lynda Heines's avatar

Marian, Thank you. I love telling stories. As you know, it’s hard for us storytellers to not share a story.

The AI Architect's avatar

Powerful capture of how brief encounters can reframe our entire perspective on gratitude and time. That moment when the doors closed and he just stated it so matter-of-factly speaks volumes. Had a similar experience last year that made me reconsider what "urgent" really means, kinda shifted everythng.

Lynda Heines's avatar

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, it sure shifts everything.

Barbara at Projectkin's avatar

So touching, Lynda. Your story is both beautiful and grounding. Thank you for sharing that moment. Three stories and an elevator. 🥹

Lynda Heines's avatar

Barbara, Thanks for reading and commenting. It was a story that had to be written. The draft started in Maui right after I ran into him.

Barbara at Projectkin's avatar

That’s why the piece is so fresh. Beautifully done.

Jennifer Jones's avatar

This is a beautiful piece of writing Lynda and very thought provoking. I'm very aware of our mortality and often wonder how one of us will cope without the other.