March brought the sad and unexpected news that my Uncle Don passed away. He was a few years into his retirement and enjoying it from all accounts: playing golf and tennis on a regular basis. Don went to bed one night and never awoke. He was found by his daughter that morning, a day he was supposed to play golf.
I was wandering around Best Buy when my mom called with the news. I was stunned. Don had seemed so healthy and happy. Just a night or two before, I was exchanging emails with him because he wanted to pick my brain about VoIP. I never got a chance to answer all his questions. I was also leaving that weekend for a business trip to Australia, so I missed his funeral to my great regret.
I couldn’t help but think of my own father, who was retiring that very month from the job he held for 37 years. Don’s retirement was how I saw my dad’s retirement – happy, secure, and full of activity. I was sad Dad and Don weren’t going to be able to share their retirements together.
If you love somebody, let them know. Hug them, laugh with them, and enjoy their company because there always comes a day when it’ll be too late.