Published by deborah.woehr on 25 Mar 2006 at 09:00 am
Thoughts
How many of you perform Google searches on yourselves? I do this occasionally to see who’s linking to me or to my websites. On Tuesday, I performed a search and found my name on a website about my high school.
I haven’t been to a single reunion since I graduated and don’t have any real desire to go to any future reunions. However, it amazed me to look at the pictures and see how much some of my classmates had changed. Some of them, I recognized right off the bat. Others, I had no clue until I read the names at the bottom of the photographs.
The memorial page hit me hard. We had lost two classmates early after graduation, so I had expected to see them there. I didn’t expect to see the other four.
I sat there in numb shock for several minutes. Then I went out to the garage and told my husband what I had found. He went to work, the kids went to school, and I worked on my editing as I struggled to work through the emotions that this webpage had stirred up.
One of the girls had died on my late brother’s birthday in 2003. I suppose that’s what upset me the most. We’ve all lost people who we care about, so I’ll stop this right here. But I will say that it’s important to enjoy the people in your life and make time for them, even when your life is hectic.
Lately, I’ve been pulling myself away from the computer to do just that. Last weekend, I went out with a good friend to see Failure to Launch. The movie was great, but I enjoyed our conversation even more. It felt good to laugh and talk.
On Thursday, I had a coffee date with another friend, whom I hadn’t gone out with in well over a year. We’ve gotten together for parties with other friends, but it has been at least two years since we met at a Starbucks or had lunch together.
It’s these rare treats that bring me joy and make me appreciate my life.
Marti on 25 Mar 2006 at 12:27 pm #
Glad you were able to get out and enjoy the company of friends! Sometimes it is hard to “pull away” from the computer.
Sad about your classmates passing, particularly the one on your brother’s birthday. Shame to have a joyous date tinged with something sorrowful.
I haven’t run my name through Google since discovering that link from a really icky/gross thing (shivers at the memory) LOL
Thank you for reminding all of us of what is important.
Cyberhugs
deborah.woehr on 25 Mar 2006 at 4:11 pm #
Big hugs to you, too, Marti.
I remember you mentioning something about the BlogShares about a month ago. The bad part about promoting your websites is that they get linked by adult sites, nevermind that yours has nothing to do with theirs.
michaelm on 26 Mar 2006 at 4:53 am #
Once again, a brilliant observation.
The people in our lives will always be most important.
Somedays I feel real guilty writing when I know I should be spending time with the kids. Maybe I should open these tired eyes of mine. Great post.
~michael
deborah.woehr on 26 Mar 2006 at 10:22 am #
Thanks, Michael. Our kids grow up so fast. My oldest started junior high this year, and it seems like his kindergarten days were a lifetime ago. I’m really looking forward to our upcoming vacation because soon, my husband and I will be “uncool.”
As for your guilty feelings, I understand them. My father-in-law used to say that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you want/need to do.