Just found out good friend passed on

[sammyg2]

I just got an e-mail that a friend I've known for 10 years through business died of a sudden heat attack.
He was 57 years old and retired last December.

All I could think of is how much of my life I have wasted doing things that were not realy important and how many opportunities I have missed to do things that should be important. It's weird how something lik this can put things into focus.

I catch myself working too many hours or being too interested in what's on TV to actually spend as much time with my kids as I would really like.
I'm going home tonight and give them a big hug and just sit and talk with them.

[Jims5543]

Sorry about your bad news.

Yes, your family is most important. I lost a good friend 6 years ago to an aneurysm. He was 53 years old, this followed his heart attack at 43. He was in the same business as me.

It was a wake up call to make sure I spent time with my family and take care of myself.

[pwd72s]

Good thinking, Sammie...especially at times like this. A friend's death is the constant reminder that we will also go. Self improvement is alaway good, but you do need goof off time as well.

[singpilot]

I cannot tell you how many guys in my business who have a mandatory retirement at age 60 who retire in the picture of health die 2 years later. They had no hobbies, and without their consuming passion (work) withered up and died.

[livi]

Sorry for your loss. Very well put - in the absence of real sorrow we tend to let even minor distractions put us down. Mean while life goes by while we struggle and whine - missing out on good, simple things. Very few people have, on their death bed, regretted they didnīt spend more time in the office.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by singpilot
I cannot tell you how many guys in my business who have a mandatory retirement at age 60 who retire in the picture of health die 2 years later. They had no hobbies, and without their consuming passion (work) withered up and died.

That's why I retired at age 49...I've already beaten the odds! (edit) Seriously, a dear friend of mine crawls out the left seat for American this July...I do worry about ol' Jimbo. He's been flying for pay, either Uncle Sam or American, since college.

[singpilot]

I just reread my post, and realized the edited version, which included the condolences, didn't post. I have been going thru a lot of those lately, friends and relatives passing.

Guys, take the time now, pay a surprise visit to loved ones, or someone you haven't seen in a while, even a phone call..... You'll regret not doing it someday.

Sammy; belated condolences.

[artplumber]

Sorry for the bad news. It's easy to be too busy to exercise, spend time doing the important things (like family, or vacationing or whatever), or eat right. Agree that you should never have to say "I wish I had done _____". Where's Cat Stevens (or whatever he calls himself now) when you need him?

[nostatic]

Sorry to hear that. Amazing how life always sends us lessons.