There are Times When you Take a Back Seat (9/12/14)

I had a weekend of dog sitting prior to the 4th of July. A friend of mine had a sudden death in the family that really knocked his world off kilter. Besides this being one of those times where you just help out a friend because he would do the same thing for you it was also an opportunity to refill my good karma reservoir.

A massive heart attack, stroke or freak accident really does pop up out of the blue. I think in general there are some things that unwittingly we take for granted until they are gone. That’s how my time in Paris was. All of the cool little bistros, great food, and culture was like “yeah whatever” until I got back to the States full time. It was similar for my buddy; one day they’re here, one day they’re not. You can no longer pickup the phone and call them out of the blue. Your last words can never change from whatever your last conversation was.

My friend’s last conversation isn’t one he regrets, but he would have liked to have had the opportunity to say goodbye. He almost sounded like a soldier returning home with survivor’s guilt when you listened to him talk. Even though I was invited to the funeral, and wanted to make the trip up to Georgia I chose not to go. My friend needed the time to grieve and find closure. I was more valuable as a dog sitter than another face in the crowd because I scratched one more item off of his to-do list.

I’m not saying you have to be an altruistic superman all the time, but there are times when you and your needs take a back seat for the greater good. This was one of those times.