outlet

i went on my elementary school best friend's facebook and saw that her father had made a facebook as well (i've gotten well over the shock of seeing older folks familiarizing themselves with online social networks). when i went to his profile and saw his picture, the same face who taught us where all the different constellations were, who'd ran across the street to catch the homework worksheet that flew out of my hands, and who'd told us funny stories about how in mexico, they called him 'window' because they couldn't pronounce 'wendall', it took me a lot of strength not to cry. i had learned a few years ago that because of a lot of family problems, the mother of my friend, his wife, who'd taken such good care of me, always taking me out to eat and inviting me over to their home, had left the two of them. and seeing his face, albeit on a computer screen, made me suddenly miss my childhood and realize how much we've aged and grown up-- the noticable wrinkles on his face paralleling the ones i've noticed in my very own parents.

what is it about time that just moves forward and never waits for any of us to catch up.

i ran into that same best friend about half a year ago at the mall as i was walking out with a new hoodie i'd bought for my brother's christmas present and as she was walking in with her current boyfriend at the time. an "oh my gosh!" and a shoulder hug and it was a goodbye.

WHAT HAPPENED?

i wonder and am awestruck at how easy it is for someone to walk in and out of your life. how easy it is for me to walk in and out of my life. how temporary relationships can be sometimes. but how deep the footsteps of those having said goodbye, have left impressions and leave me asking this question, teaching me to be more intentional, more purposeful, more meaningful, and more mindful. of how. short. time. is.