Live Like You Were Dying

My wedding shower in 1996, which Chris planned for me

Live Like You Were Dying

by Mek

God has a very odd sense of humor. Friday night, as I was feeling as though my purpose in living was not needed anymore, He was taking the life of one of the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life.

Friday night, Chris, her husband and her 17 year old son, were moving some furniture from her mother’s house to their house, when the mattress fell out of the back of the pick up truck her husband was driving. Her son was following his dad with mom in the car. They both pulled over to the side of the road – had their flashers and blinkers on. Mac told Chris to “stay in the car so that you won’t get hurt, we’ll get the mattress”. So, while Mac and Daniel were dealing with the mattress, a drunk driver plowed into the back of Chris’s car, slamming it into the back of Mac’s pickup truck and crushing her and killing her instantly. While her husband and son watched and they were not injured. The horror of it all, I can not imagine a young boy watching his mother being killed. The irony is that she wanted to help with the mattress, but they wanted her to be safe and out of harms way and now, she is dead. Just like that!!!!!

I met Chris when I interviewed her for a position in the orthopedic practice that I managed in Colorado Springs. As we sat down to start the interview, she said, I can’t believe that I am meeting you, I had the biggest crush on your brother in high school and I am very nervous talking to you.” I assured her that she had nothing to worry about (hell, it was just ME and I did find it kind of cute). We reminisced about high school – I hired her on the spot.

Chris and I became good friends. She had a heart of gold. She was the kind of person that NEVER (and I mean NEVER) had a negative thing to say about anyone or anything. You could give her the worst task ever and she would take it, complete it and NEVER complain. She and I joined Weight Watchers together and helped each other keep on track. (We both fell off the wagon when I moved; we didn’t have each other to lean on to keep that weight off).

"Utterly" Good Times, Chris and Me, on Halloween

She and I both became our mother’s care taker, her mother passed away last year – I felt terrible that I wasn’t there for her, but kept in contact thru email. She just became a grandmother; she loved that little girl SO much. We had gotten together every time I have gone back to Colorado and were planning our next meeting for July.

She wrote me the nicest letter after I moved to Arizona. Letting me know that she had taken me for granted while I was there, and that you never know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Telling me that not only was I a good friend, but the best boss EVER. She made me cry……it’s these kinds of things that made me miss Colorado SO much. Now, I will have a HUGE void.

Today, I have realized that I have taken a lot of things for granted. Life is pretty damn good and I am not living it to its fullest. I am the only one that can change things – I have always known that, but haven’t always practiced it.

Chris, smiling, as she always did

So, for my dear friend, Chris, today is a new day. I will wake up and make the most of it. I will miss you my friend. God Bless you and please watch over me.

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