Life can be good!

Life really CAN be good. It’s truly the simple things in life that matter the most. I was standing in line to buy movie tickets last night watching the most amazing Christmas tree lighting I think I have ever seen. It was a big production on stage outside the mall. I would say a thousand people were there. There were kids from Wooville and the Grinch and the next thing I know there was Santa on stage and the kids were singing so joyously. The countdown began 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1 and the Christmas tree lit up, snow started to fall and fireworks began.

It was magical. I had never been to a Christmas tree lighting with fireworks before. It was as if my two favorite holidays had collided and I was on sensory overload. Our timing to buy movie tickets couldn’t have been more perfect. My phone was ringing and I missed a call during this 5 to 10 minutes of festivity and when I looked at my phone I realized it was my daughter Megan in North Carolina. Instantly I knew something was wrong as it was 11 o’clock her time which is late for her to call.

I stepped away from the crowd to call her back. She was crying and almost choking on her tears as I heard her tell me her dear friend Rudy had passed away at age 50. He had battled with diabetes as long as we knew him. I think it’s been about 14 years now or so. My heart broke for her knowing she was hurting and I wished I was in North Carolina to comfort her.  As we talked about him, his life and both his and her decisions I realized life CAN be good! Rudy brought us laughter. He was creative. He had a huge heart and he loved kids and more importantly her loved her. Megan had been blessed to have an amazing conversation just days before his passing. One that was needed for both of them and would give her closure.

After we talked I went into the movie with Sam, his son and my one of my best friends Gina. The movie was even more of a reason I realized life CAN be good. Here I was surrounded with three of the most important people in my life about ready to watch a movie about time, gravity and love. If you haven’t gone to see Interstellar I would truly recommend it. It was very well written and left us having a great conversation afterwards.

Life CAN be good. We get to choose. When we left the movie theater the Christmas tree was lit outside and it was beautiful, I was with the man who loves me, his son and one of my best friends. As I looked at that tree I said a quick prayer for Rudy and for my daughter to find comfort with his loss. Life can be good and I choose to embrace it!