One by one...

[susandennis]

For a couple of years in the 90's, I lived in Northern California. It was a special time. There was a pack of about a dozen of us who hung around together. Mostly we were recent transplants and enjoyed discovering Northern California together - in weekend day trips or just dinner out on the odd Thursday. Some of us worked together and some were in the group via coupling.

I have a photo in my bedroom of most of the group one weekend at Reno. We had a condo we rented there in the winter. Some of the group went skiing and some went gambling and some just played in the snow. It was just a special time.

After about 3 years we all kind of went separate ways. Some got transferred, some just moved away. And I kind of kept in touch and saw some of the folks for a few years and then not so much. The only one I really ever saw regularly was my friend, John, who was the one I was closest to and had known before CA.

One member of the group developed early onset Alzheimers and, after about five really miserable years, finally died. Then about five years after that, John died. Then today, I learned that another group member passed away unexpectedly this week.

All of us are really too old already to die young but still. It's wild to look at that Reno picture. To every thing there is a season. We were so lucky to have had such a good one.

Comments

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

Yes, you were - I htink treasuring those good times is all we can do sometimes.

[plantmom.livejournal.com]

What a sweet, poignant thought. How soulful you must be to have such a thought.

[seekerval.livejournal.com]

My sympathies on the loss of one of your old crew. I'm glad you have the happy memories of fun times.

I think there's a big difference between dying young and dying too young. For a very few people I know, 99 would be too young to die because the world needs folk like them. For most of us, too young hinges on more personal connections and probably fades years sooner.