Always say goodbye to your loved ones and a World Cup highlight

Today started out great; the kind of day you look forward to. Maybe I got enough sleep, maybe the nice weather is putting a spring in my step. I don’t know why but I felt great as I bounded into work. Too bad it did not last.

When I walked into work I was confronted by co-workers who looked sick with worry. It turns out there was a bad accident on the local highway and four employees had not shown up yet. Two people died in the accident, and all four employees used that stretch of highway to get to work.  Our population is small , and with four missing employees chances were good that at least one of them may have been involved in the accident. After a few tense moments all four called in; three sat in traffic while one had turned around and gone home thinking the highway would be shut down for hours.

I know accidents happen all the time, but today it really hit me. It could have been anyone of us. Imagine leaving for work, saying whatever trivial things we say to our loved ones, planning your day then bam, gone; gone in a second, gone because someone else made a small mistake, leaving behind spouses, parents, children and close friends.  It shook me up as I realized I did not say goodbye to my son this morning. I felt for those who died and those they left behind.

When our fourth employee finally showed up she was upset too but for a personal reason. Because she turned around and waited two hours to come in her boss told her she had to make up the time or use up some annual time. All morning she complained about this and pouted as she did her work. Since we are friends I reminded her that two people from our community had no more time to make up. I wanted her to see the issue in a different way. Sadly, she would not snap out of herself absorbed, self made problem.  Had she stayed in traffic she would have only been a half our late. I do not know why, but sometimes we become so focused on our problems we forget they are usually small compared to others. I made a mental note to always say goodbye to Alex just as I always say hello when I get home. Please dear Reader, do the same.  Keep in mind we could be gone at any moment by no fault of our own.

Now for something light. In case you missed it the World Cup match between England and the US I give offer this entertaining highlight.