A Moment

This winter has produced a lot of cabin fever.  We're all going a little crazy keeping track of the neighbors and talking back at the television.  The snow piles are still huge and travel isn't the best right now.

Someone passed me on Bourbon Street as I was leaving this morning.  It didn't matter there's a double yellow line, the road narrows to one lane in places, or that there was an oncoming car.   The oncoming driver and I just lifted our hands in an awkward acknowledgement of the situation.  I still didn't speed up, and noticed that the speeding driver took the right turn on a red light without stopping.  I hope wherever he was going was important.

Like many people I'm driving a little slower and more cautiously.  Intersections are challenging because of the snow piles.  I can't see and unless someone's in a cherry picker I can't imagine how anyone does.  So I'm getting used to getting beeped at.  Unless there's a fire or chocolate involved, I don't rush.

I heard some news lately that makes all these traffic woes really small potatoes.  There have been two bad weather related deaths recently.  One moment vital, lively people have been engaged in normal activities.  And within a moment, life ended.  Visiting friends and being outdoors isn't usually lethal but this month it was for two very good men.

Families are left behind to pick up the pieces.  The best person to ask for help and advice isn't there anymore.  Life goes on for those left behind, slower than before, feeling like sloughing through mud.

The one good thing that could come from this winter is that it should force us all to slow down.  We need to actually talk to our family and friends.  I've done a lot of baking, then sharing.  Life flies.  The belief that there's something beyond this world is up to each person.  But while we are here let's value this moment, this place, the people we're with.  

Because it's as all here one moment, the glorious world.

And then it's gone.