A Life Lost Too Young

Sorry Blog followers, but today we won't be doing a Toe-To-Toe topic.  Unfortunately I recieved some very upsetting news this morning, and don't feel up to being witty or funny or argumentative.

On my way into work I recieved a call from one of my best friends who lives in San Antonio.  Since I was going under on the train, I decided I'd just call her back.  As I traveled into the city my mind started to wander as to what she could be calling for so early on a Tuesday.  Now we mainly contact each other via email or text, so phone calls usually mean something big.  At first I thought maybe she was deciding to move back to NY and couldn't wait to tell me.  Since it was raining and sidewalk traffic out of hand as usual, I waited until I got upstairs before calling.  As I started up my computer, I picked up my phone and noticed I had a missed call from another friend, as well as a text message.  At this point I knew something was wrong.  When she finally answered, all I could hear were sobs.  She eventually managed to tell me that a friend of ours that we worked with a few years ago, had passed away.  My mouth dropped.  I was at a lost and just began to cry.  When I finally did say something, all I could muster was, "How?"  She had passed away on Sunday and was only 36 years old.

Melo (our nickname for her) was an amazing person.  She was kind to EVERYONE.  On good and bad days she always managed to smile and see the best in everything.  She was that bubbly individual that even when stressed out didn't break a sweat; there was always a solution.  I met Melo in Feb. '06 when I started my new job in Sales.  She sat with me for days teaching me the systems, protocols and when I messed up she wasn't even flustered when having to correct my mistakes or telling me what I did wrong.  She was very loving and motherly to me and my best friend, Liz.  When we played jokes on people in the office, you could always hear her snickering in the background.  She was the type of person that when you were at your desk fustrated and talking to yourself outloud, five minutes later when everything went silent, she'd yell out "Are you ok?"  It was just the funniest thing because it was so random.  She covered for people when they were running late, or if they needed an extra dollar or two for lunch she was always the first to offer it up, even if she didn't have it.  There aren't enough good things I can say about this woman.  Melo leaves behind her husband (college sweethearts) and a daugther.  May God bless her family and friends during this very difficult time.

I feel ashamed of myself that I hadn't spoken to her in so long.  After leaving the company, I moved on to the other side of our business but still had contact with the old office.  I'd speak to her randomly throughout the months and catch up.  After a while, with clients coming and going and jumping on and off of many accounts, the random monthly calls turned into maybe every few months and to then nothing.  It's so sad that we allow things like work, schooling or dating to get into the way of reaching out to our friends everyday.  I think about the friends that I have, those that I haven't seen or spoken to in a very long time, and I don't understand why we allow such a gap in our communication.  So if you have someone that you've been "meaning" to reach out too, don't wait.  Life is way to short and time way to precious to let it just pass us by.  Cherish every moment and every person you love; don't live with regrets and with "what ifs". 

This is our old crew on an outing to Six Flags Great Adventures.  Melo is on the far left next to my best friend, Liz who's kissing Porky.  This was the last time, about 6 years ago, we were all together.  I miss the times we had as a team, and sometimes I do wish I could go back; more now than ever, just to talk to Melo one more time.