I've been thinking of all the people who've touched my life . . .

even briefly, and then disappeared forever. It started one day on my usual doggie walk. When I walk around the local elementary school (for 5th & 6th graders), I always see one delightful little girl. She is generally the first one there, and she always gives us a big smile and calls the dogs by name. Last week, I noticed that she wasn't there for a few days and I got just a bit concerned. I don't even know her name, but I started wondering if she could be sick or something was wrong. Then I realized that she could move or completely disappear from the face of the earth and I would never know what happened. It got me started thinking about all the people who have added to my life and then are gone: the teachers, old boyfriends and girlfriends, bus drivers, you name it.

The next day, I was a few minutes later than usual, and I saw that my little 'friend' was walking with another little girl along a slightly different route. Clearly, she had found a new friend to walk with so that she didn't need to be quite so early (and alone) in the morning. I was very relieved and happy for her.

But I'm still thinking about all those people who are in and then out of our lives . . .

Tues, May 9:
J - 6
B - 10