One of the things that I like to do daily is visit one of my favorite websites. www.texags.com. It's a community of people, mostly Aggies but not all, that likes to exchange information about a variety of subjects. There are many different forums within the TEXAGS website covering the usual football, baseball, basketball, and the various other sports associated with college athletics. While those are very interesting, I find myself gravitating more towards the Outdoors board, or the Automotive board, or if I'm really feeling adventurous the Politics board. In all, there is approx 20-25 different boards to choose from.
Over time you develop a pseudo relationship with many of the people posting on the site. It's almost impossible not to. You find yourself defending a point or making a recommendation to many of the same people over time, and get to enjoy the banter back and forth.
This week, two of the better "posters" on the site had devastating news. One friendly Aggie has been chronicling his wife's struggle to fight lung cancer for a couple of years. He has continually delivered the good news and the bad. Today he found out that his wife's latest battle will be her last, as she has been given 9 months to live. While I do not personally know this man, I have been following their struggles for so long, that I felt genuine remorse reading about this latest and final set back. This women never smoked, and is relatively young. It breaks my heart when I put myself in his shoes, and think about the utter devastation I would feel if I were to lose Lori.
On the same day, I also read that one of my favorite contributors on the Automotive page (one that I've had several conversations with) had a stroke last weekend and is for all intensive purposes........gone. He has been in ICU all week fighting for his life, but that all changed today. They are now keeping him "alive" with machines in order for his two young sons to make it up to Dallas to see him one last time before they let him go. This is a 48 year old man in the prime of his life.....only two years older than me. :-(
I love my children and family more than anything on earth. I do not want to imagine a life without them, and I do not want them to experience life without me. Hopefully, God willing, I have many years left on earth, and I will get to see my boys grow up to be fine, successful men. I also hope that Lori and I will grow old together, and she will by my side holding my hand when I draw my last breath.
Every moment you spend with the people you love should be special. If it is not, correct that. You never know when you might be called home.
William
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