2017 Up to Now....

....it's been a very strange year up until now.  I don't want to say it's been a terrible year just yet, although the last week or so for me has been a strong indicator of that.  As usually the case, the year is flying by and it is still very early?!  Is it?!  Maybe not, but I will stop short in saying a terrible year, for now.

It's a weird thing, losing a best friend even though you weren't as close as you once were.  Big Sis said it best when I told her the news of one our best friend being killed, "Heartbreaking."  Yes indeed, it was very heartbreaking.  Heartbreaking in that he was full of life, funny, and just the "life of the party" in general.  We drifted apart many years ago, but were able to stay in touch, even more so recently, through the power of social media.  It's weird knowing that he isn't on the planet anymore.  That fact alone hurts.  We had a lot of history together, and he was always a part of my life.  I think about things, and he was always there with me.  The memories, as they say, are what someone can never really take away from you and that rings true.  Sports played a huge role in our growing up.  Every time I see a historic sporting event, chances are we saw it together.  Every time I see a Rockets Championship highlight, a Houston Oilers disappointing loss, or just an old Astros highlight, it will no doubt take me back to a certain point in time.  It may even bring a smile to my face.

Another thing that is strange is that it takes a tragic event such as a friend's passing to bring old friends back together again.  A positive in my mind, maybe not always the case though.  It makes you realize even more that time just flies by and simply waits for no one.  Too much time can pass, and there is nothing you can do about it.  It's a precious thing, that crazy time.  So you try to make plans and only hope that you follow through to actually see old friends more often.  You realize that you missed hanging out and too much time passed.  You try not to let that happen again.

So needless to say, there has been a lot of reflection lately.  Great memories revived after a tragic loss of life.  It's made me focus lately, and that could only be a good thing.  I've even followed up already and hung out with an old buddy and his family, with my family no less!  How about that?  Now, time to stay focused on things and get back on track.  The year is about to really get busy, but we have to remember to not let time get the best of us and make us miss things.  Ahhh, challenges...life is full of them.  I hope I am up to them.