Living the Dash

Yesterday, the date on the calendar held a familiar weight, a day that for so many years was filled with cake and the sound of our off-key “Happy Birthday” song. Yesterday was Momma’s birthday.

This year, the celebration looked different. Instead of gathering around a table full of her goodies, we found ourselves at her graveside. We sat together and had a picnic, shared memories and quiet moments amidst the gentle spring breeze. It was a picnic unlike any other, a bittersweet gathering to honor a life that continues to shape us, even in her absence.

Being there, surrounded by the quiet markers of those who have gone before, brought a familiar ache, that pang of missing her that still catches me off guard. But amidst the sadness, there was also a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the years we had, for the laughter we shared, and for the unwavering love she poured into our lives.

Sitting there together, the fragility of life felt so incredibly present. We all know that our time here is finite. We hear the reminders, we read the stories. Yet, it’s in these stark moments, in the face of absence, that the truth truly resonates: life can shift, change, and slip away with a speed that leaves us breathless.

Mom always had a way of finding joy in the simple things and encouraged us to do the same. Her voice echoes in my memory, urging us to take that trip, visit that friend, say those important words – “before you’re not able to.”

Yesterday, as we shared those quiet moments and remembered her vibrant spirit, her words felt more poignant than ever. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This very breath, this very moment, is what we have. The dreams we hold, the connections we yearn for, the experiences that call to us – they cannot wait indefinitely.

So, today, as the echo of “Happy Birthday, Momma” still lingers in the air, let it also be a call to action for us all. Let’s choose to truly live. Not in some distant future when the time is “right,” but in the messy, beautiful reality of now. Let’s reach out to those we love, pursue the passions that ignite our souls, and savor the simple joys that fill our days. Because, as we all know too well, life is precious and fleeting. Let’s honor the memory of those we’ve lost by embracing the gift of the present and living every moment with intention, love, and a fierce appreciation for the time we have.

Take the trip. Make the call. Say “I love you.” Life is happening now.